On 4 Apr 2008, at 10:52 AM, Jari Williamsson wrote:
Please keep in mind that violas don't are in standard sizes like
violins. Some of them are huge, some small (and the instrument
sizes are not proportional to the player's hands!). Artificial
harmonics produced by stopping the string a 5th above the pressed
finger is a really big stretch on most violas. So make sure to test
it on the player!
Jari is, of course, exactly right. BUT, all things being equal, a
player will not usually play a very large viola (17" up to 20")
unless that player is a large person and has relatively large hands
and long arms. Plenty of exceptions, I'm sure, but plenty of folks
who are in pain if their instruments doesn't fit them, too.
But of course yes, since you're writing for a specific player, try it
out. It's when you're writing generic parts for "the average player"
that you can get into trouble!
John
--
John R. Howell, Assoc. Prof. of Music
Virginia Tech Department of Music
College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences
Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A. 24061-0240
Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034
(mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED])
http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html
_______________________________________________
Finale mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
