What instrument is an “alto” string part in a score?












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In the music score below, the bottom five parts seem to be string parts. We think the first two are violins, the last is string bass, and the second-last is cello. But what is the third-last? Is it a viola? We understand the clef is an older-style C-clef (alto or viola clef).



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    In the music score below, the bottom five parts seem to be string parts. We think the first two are violins, the last is string bass, and the second-last is cello. But what is the third-last? Is it a viola? We understand the clef is an older-style C-clef (alto or viola clef).



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      3







      In the music score below, the bottom five parts seem to be string parts. We think the first two are violins, the last is string bass, and the second-last is cello. But what is the third-last? Is it a viola? We understand the clef is an older-style C-clef (alto or viola clef).



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      In the music score below, the bottom five parts seem to be string parts. We think the first two are violins, the last is string bass, and the second-last is cello. But what is the third-last? Is it a viola? We understand the clef is an older-style C-clef (alto or viola clef).



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      terminology instruments orchestral-strings






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      asked Dec 24 at 0:43









      LarsH

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          Yes, Alto = Viola. It's the French name for the instrument, and the score shown is a part of 'Carnival of the Animals' by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.



          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carnival_of_the_Animals#XII_%22Fossiles%22_(Fossils)



          The other instrument names are easily recognisable. Note that Bb Clarinet is 'Clarinette en SIb'. The French write the scale as do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do rather than C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In German it would be "Klarinette in B'. In Germany, 'B' is 'Bb', 'H' is 'B'. Apart from confusing foreigners, this has the advantage of letting German composers write fugues based on 'BACH'.



          Alto clef is the standard clef for viola music. A particularly high passage might move into treble clef. But mostly they live in alto clef.






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          • Don't the French still use the mediaeval "ut" for do?
            – Andrew Leach
            2 days ago



















          4














          Yes it is a part written for a viola. Because of its range the alto clef is standard choice for viola in all types of music.



          Here is an orchestral example from Verdi's overture to II Signor Bruschino (from the textbook Instrumentation and orchestration) where the viola is marked Va.



          overture to II Signor Brushion from instrumentation and orchestration






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              3 Answers
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              3 Answers
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              active

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              active

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              active

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              13














              Yes, Alto = Viola. It's the French name for the instrument, and the score shown is a part of 'Carnival of the Animals' by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.



              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carnival_of_the_Animals#XII_%22Fossiles%22_(Fossils)



              The other instrument names are easily recognisable. Note that Bb Clarinet is 'Clarinette en SIb'. The French write the scale as do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do rather than C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In German it would be "Klarinette in B'. In Germany, 'B' is 'Bb', 'H' is 'B'. Apart from confusing foreigners, this has the advantage of letting German composers write fugues based on 'BACH'.



              Alto clef is the standard clef for viola music. A particularly high passage might move into treble clef. But mostly they live in alto clef.






              share|improve this answer





















              • Don't the French still use the mediaeval "ut" for do?
                – Andrew Leach
                2 days ago
















              13














              Yes, Alto = Viola. It's the French name for the instrument, and the score shown is a part of 'Carnival of the Animals' by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.



              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carnival_of_the_Animals#XII_%22Fossiles%22_(Fossils)



              The other instrument names are easily recognisable. Note that Bb Clarinet is 'Clarinette en SIb'. The French write the scale as do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do rather than C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In German it would be "Klarinette in B'. In Germany, 'B' is 'Bb', 'H' is 'B'. Apart from confusing foreigners, this has the advantage of letting German composers write fugues based on 'BACH'.



              Alto clef is the standard clef for viola music. A particularly high passage might move into treble clef. But mostly they live in alto clef.






              share|improve this answer





















              • Don't the French still use the mediaeval "ut" for do?
                – Andrew Leach
                2 days ago














              13












              13








              13






              Yes, Alto = Viola. It's the French name for the instrument, and the score shown is a part of 'Carnival of the Animals' by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.



              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carnival_of_the_Animals#XII_%22Fossiles%22_(Fossils)



              The other instrument names are easily recognisable. Note that Bb Clarinet is 'Clarinette en SIb'. The French write the scale as do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do rather than C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In German it would be "Klarinette in B'. In Germany, 'B' is 'Bb', 'H' is 'B'. Apart from confusing foreigners, this has the advantage of letting German composers write fugues based on 'BACH'.



              Alto clef is the standard clef for viola music. A particularly high passage might move into treble clef. But mostly they live in alto clef.






              share|improve this answer












              Yes, Alto = Viola. It's the French name for the instrument, and the score shown is a part of 'Carnival of the Animals' by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.



              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carnival_of_the_Animals#XII_%22Fossiles%22_(Fossils)



              The other instrument names are easily recognisable. Note that Bb Clarinet is 'Clarinette en SIb'. The French write the scale as do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do rather than C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In German it would be "Klarinette in B'. In Germany, 'B' is 'Bb', 'H' is 'B'. Apart from confusing foreigners, this has the advantage of letting German composers write fugues based on 'BACH'.



              Alto clef is the standard clef for viola music. A particularly high passage might move into treble clef. But mostly they live in alto clef.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Dec 24 at 1:55









              Laurence Payne

              31.6k1558




              31.6k1558












              • Don't the French still use the mediaeval "ut" for do?
                – Andrew Leach
                2 days ago


















              • Don't the French still use the mediaeval "ut" for do?
                – Andrew Leach
                2 days ago
















              Don't the French still use the mediaeval "ut" for do?
              – Andrew Leach
              2 days ago




              Don't the French still use the mediaeval "ut" for do?
              – Andrew Leach
              2 days ago











              4














              Yes it is a part written for a viola. Because of its range the alto clef is standard choice for viola in all types of music.



              Here is an orchestral example from Verdi's overture to II Signor Bruschino (from the textbook Instrumentation and orchestration) where the viola is marked Va.



              overture to II Signor Brushion from instrumentation and orchestration






              share|improve this answer




























                4














                Yes it is a part written for a viola. Because of its range the alto clef is standard choice for viola in all types of music.



                Here is an orchestral example from Verdi's overture to II Signor Bruschino (from the textbook Instrumentation and orchestration) where the viola is marked Va.



                overture to II Signor Brushion from instrumentation and orchestration






                share|improve this answer


























                  4












                  4








                  4






                  Yes it is a part written for a viola. Because of its range the alto clef is standard choice for viola in all types of music.



                  Here is an orchestral example from Verdi's overture to II Signor Bruschino (from the textbook Instrumentation and orchestration) where the viola is marked Va.



                  overture to II Signor Brushion from instrumentation and orchestration






                  share|improve this answer














                  Yes it is a part written for a viola. Because of its range the alto clef is standard choice for viola in all types of music.



                  Here is an orchestral example from Verdi's overture to II Signor Bruschino (from the textbook Instrumentation and orchestration) where the viola is marked Va.



                  overture to II Signor Brushion from instrumentation and orchestration







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 2 days ago









                  Laurence Payne

                  31.6k1558




                  31.6k1558










                  answered Dec 24 at 0:51









                  Dom

                  35.4k18101217




                  35.4k18101217























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                          answered 11 hours ago









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