Klarinet Archive - Posting 000317.txt from 2002/12

From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Humor
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 16:54:33 -0500

The viola is notoriously difficult to play well, especially with respect to intonation. It's also
viewed by some as a mutant cousin of the violin, as if a male string bass and a female cello had
conceived a child. The cello contracted gestational diabetes which went treated, causing their
baby violin to come out bigger than expected, not to mention sounding a fifth lower than they'd
hoped (i.e., not as sweet or "pure" as its smaller violin cousin). The intonational challenges
make good viola players a rare commodity, which is one of the main reasons that bad ones are so
viciously maligned.

Neil

--- Lacy Schroeder <LacyS@-----.org> wrote:
> Are you not familiar with the whole viola joke thing? I think violists
> get the rap for being introverts and insecure about the
> disproportionality of their instruments. I've known several violists and
> the stereotypes really aren't true, and they really resent the jokes
> such as: What is the longest viola joke in history? Harold in Italy!
>
> As for the John Denver thing, I can only think that the conductor might
> want them to play quietly and delicately(?).
>
> Lacy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Wright [mailto:Bi6W@-----.net]
> Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 3:05 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: Re: [kl] Humor
>
> Some of those made me laugh, David, but a couple of them puzzle me.
> Can you educate me?
>
> <><> "Play as if you were accompanying John Denver."
>
> <><> "It's no use telling the violas, they won't do it anyway."
>
> I can understand why people pick on trumpets, bassoons, drums and
> trumpets, but what is it about violas that attracts attention?
>
> Cheers,
> Bill
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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