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Angering the viola gods.

March 6, 2012 at 4:18 AM

I have angered the viola gods.

As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, my focus this year has been on my mental 'map' of the upper positions on the violin. So, I've been playing a lot of 1st violin in orchestra, to great effect. Our last concert for this orchestra was very difficult but productive, but this concert line-up promises to be a great fun show.

We are doing a 'fairy tales' concert, with excepts of Sheherezade, Swan Lake, Sleeping beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and the entire Mother Goose Suite by Ravel. The 1st violin parts are a blast...fast, high and fun, but without the stress of the last concert. I was so looking forward to reaping the benefits of my work earlier this season, and just flat-out having fun with it.

But alas.... for the 2nd time this season, I've been tapped to play viola. While I like being able to flex and truly do feel all parts are important, this is a disappointment. I have been heard to whine a bit to my family. :P But, I put a smile on my face, and moved over...

...Only to find out that I was not only playing viola, but playing principal. Which means that I have to play the 7th position solo in the last movement of the Ravel.

7th position is a lot easier on the violin than the viola. The viola gods are taking their revenge on me.

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Funny how things have a way of working themselves out, eh? ;-)
Wellcome to the viola world!!! 7th position on the C string? If so you need a very good instrument, most violas will sound bad in this region.

www.manfio.com

Watch out for the children of the viola gods...the clef gods. You might find yourself playing in the alto clef and suddenly you realize the notes have 'morphed' into the treble clef...and when you blink, they 'morph' back again.

---Ann Marie

There must be a reason you were selected for this..
It's not revenge at all! After doing this on viola, 7th position and up on the violin will be as simple as can be, veritable child's play. The viola gods are friendly gods, and they have enrolled you in the accelerated course.
borrow a 5ing, and CHEAT!
No, definitely not on the C string. The A and D, thankfully. I'm wondering if anyone would notice if I sneaked my violin in next to me and played it on that :).

You can appease the viola gods by playing a 1 octave C major scale on the C string for a few days.

But be warned and do not anger them again, or they will turn one of the pegs out of tune and not tell you which one!

Mendy, thanks for the tip, from alto-land. And, I'd hope that if they turn a peg and don't tell me which one, I should be able to tell by listening :) :P.
You would think so Dottie, but it seems (to this violinist:-) ), that almost everyone who plays viola has angered the gods at least one pegs worth

Ellie
{Ducking, jinking and running for cover}

Viola gods are clearly a capricious lot! Good luck. Violin gods seem to be more benevolent.