A player of the viola is called a "violist". The principal technique for playing this stringed instrument is bowing by means of a bow made of horsehair. The viola is the alto voice of the violin family of instruments, and as such is bigger than the violin as well as having a deeper sound. The cello is tuned an octave below the viola. The viola uses notation written in the alto clef.

Often the purpose of the viola in string quartets and symphonic writing is that of playing the "inner voices" and accompaniments. However, it occasionally plays a more prominent role as a soloist.

The viola has had a variety of names over its history; the word "viola" is derived from Italy, where the instrument was known as the viola da braccio. The Germans adopted another Italian name for the instrument - Brazzo, interpreted in German as Bratsche.

Many great music composers in history have preferred playing the part of a violist when playing in ensembles, these included Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Sometimes the viola is given a prominent role in orchestral music, examples of these include:

• Richard Strauss
  Don Quixote


• Hector Berlioz
  Harold en Italie