Professional Violas – Why Owning a Modern Viola is the Best Choice

High-profile string players are always raving about their antique instruments from master makers. Yo-Yo Ma famously plays an eighteenth-century Domenico Montagnana cello, and Hilary Hahn’s violin of choice is a Jean Baptiste Vuillaume copy of an even older model, Niccolò Paganini’s beloved Guarneri del Gesù “Il cannone.”

But what about violists?

While there are some wonderful antique violas, it is much harder to find a quality vintage viola in good condition than it is to find historical violins and cellos. There are simply more professional violists in the world who need superior instruments than there are top-notch antique violas available for sale in a price range most musicians can afford. But is a vintage viola really a necessity? We’ve done the research for you, and the answer is a resounding “no.” Read on to find out why a modern viola, handmade by a master luthier, is often the best option for today’s professional violist.

Why are there so few antique violas?

The dearth of antique violas can be easily explained: most of the master luthiers of the past simply made fewer violas than violins or cellos. Until the nineteenth century, the viola was largely considered an ensemble instrument, mostly used to accompany dancing. Violins and cellos had more eager customers and were thus produced more often. Seventeenth-century Brescia and Venice, where chamber music was especially valued, produced some excellent violas. However, these cities are outliers, and the age and rarity of these instruments make it difficult for conservatory students and young professionals to find an affordable antique viola in good condition.

How violas have changed 

Violas also changed dramatically over the course of their history. There is no standard viola size, and historical luthiers experimented with proportions according to their personal tastes and the music of their time. In Cremona, composer and violinist Arcangelo Corelli worked closely with Antonio Stradivari, and Corelli’s solo viola works were written specifically to the strengths of Stradivari’s instruments. As Romantic era composers demanded more power and greater range from violas, luthiers’ priorities shifted. Many Baroque instruments were altered to better fit the new style. Unfortunately for early music specialists, seventeenth and eighteenth century violas are already rare, but it is even harder to find one whose alterations did not negatively impact the instrument.

Even with the new demands of Romantic music for solo viola, they were still not widely produced. The great workshops of Mirecourt, Markneukirchen, and Mittenwald, who represent quality and often relative affordability in antique instruments, produced far fewer violas when compared with their legendary output of violins and cellos.

What if I can’t find an antique instrument?

Do not despair! You can find both antique and contemporary instruments that satisfy your musical tastes. The qualities that you may be looking for in a vintage viola, such as full tone, power, and responsiveness, can be found in more modern models, too. Each instrument is unique and will have its own strengths and weaknesses that will please different ears, repertoire, and venues, regardless of its age.

Even if you do find an antique viola from a famous workshop, the ravages of time are a factor. Even the most beautiful instruments can wear if they are not meticulously preserved. An antique viola that may be worth hundreds of thousands to a collector may not necessarily have the same value to a player.

The vintage viola presents unique challenges beyond just its rarity. Because of the constant experimentation in historical viola music and production, even if you are able to find a high-quality antique viola in good condition, many antique instruments are simply not the right size for modern standards. The result can be an awkward, uncomfortable playing experience that produces a tone more suited for accompanying an Allemande in a Baroque salon than shining as a soloist in a modern concert hall.

Why buy a modern viola?

Today, there are more talented luthiers than ever producing quality violas at reasonable prices. Violin making schools all over the world, from the United States to Germany to Italy, are sharing the expertise that was once a jealously guarded family secret, ushering in a new, international Golden Age of violin-making.

Modern luthiers provide violists with every string player’s dream: an instrument made by a single master from beginning to end. Their well-seasoned tonewood means that even though the viola may not be an antique, it still has the rich sound that comes with age. Modern luthiers are able to craft violas specific to modern music’s needs that, as new instruments, are guaranteed to be undamaged by wear. They also produce different sizes, assuring comfort and ease for any player. Professionals can even commission an instrument directly from a luthier to create their ideal instrument.

Modern professional violas at Dolce Violins