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Viola and Chamber Music

March 30, 2007 at 2:56 AM

I don't get enough chamber music. In fact I rarely find an opportunity to play any. I lived in Japan from 1982-1988 and I played frequently there. Once or twice I even got to play with some professionally trained players who had chosen careers outside of performing. It was a lot of fun and it whet my appetite for more but it is an appetite that is very unsatisfied. In the intervening years I have played just enough (Mendelssohn octet, occassional evenings playing Mendelssohn piano trios, a few attempts to put together some Brahms piano quartet performances that never really got off the ground etc. ) to know I want to do more

I bought a viola a few years ago thinking that if I could find another violinist/violist we could take turns in a string quartet. But I was just getting a little fluidity in the c-clef when my youngest son took a growth spurt and took over my viola. I am not sure I'll ever get it back.

Have any other violinists had any success with a a violin/viola strategy? Should I buy another viola?

I do both. My viola paid for itself rather quickly, as there is always a need.
Well, I wouldn't call it a "strategy," but I started playing viola again (after a 7-year gap from playing any instrument) about 6 months ago, and I'm finding I like it more than violin. I'm hoping to buy a viola soon. I'd say go for it!
I don't know what you mean by a "violin/viola strategy", but there are certainly people who play both; my former violin teacher was one, and there are many violists here on V.com I personally don't like playing the viola, but it's nice to be able to. That said, I haven't touched one in 20 years. :D
I mean if I can offer myself as a violist perhaps I can bargain my way into playing violin from time to time. This of course depends on the willingness (and ability) of someone else to take a turn on the viola.