Ah, the viola. The viola is a much maligned instrument, the butt of countless jokes (see below).
What's the difference between a violin and a viola?
The viola burns longer.
The viola holds more beer.
You can tune the violin.
But on Nov. 13, we played Bach’s beloved Brandenburg Concert No. 6 and guess what? the 2 solo lines are for viola! There are no violins on this one and so the violas (finally) get the chance to shine!
Then there were musical mysteries, some which we could explain and some we could not. For example Francois Couperin’s pastoral rondeau for harpsichord “Soeur Monique” was either about a nun or ladies of light virtue. The Nymphs of the Rhine for 2 gambas, well, the last time I heard about Rhine maidens or sprites was in Wagnerian operas.
L-R: Dan McCarthy & Kyle Miller (viola); Anneke Schaul-Yoder, cello; Nancy Kito, harpsichord; Arnie Tanimoto & Adam Young, gamba.