In the earlier part of the 20th century, more composers began to write for the viola, encouraged by the emergence of specialized soloists such as Lionel Tertis and William Primrose. Examples include the symphonic poem Don Quixote, by Richard Strauss, and the symphony/concerto Harold en Italie, by Hector Berlioz. The viola occasionally plays a major, soloistic role in orchestral music. The viola often plays the 'inner voices' in string quartets and symphonic writing, and it is more likely than the first violin to play accompaniment parts. When viola music has substantial sections in a higher register, it switches to the treble clef to make it easier to read. Music for the viola differs from most other instruments in that it primarily uses the alto clef. The viola was popular in the heyday of five-part harmony, up until the eighteenth century, taking three lines of the harmony and occasionally playing the melody line. Today, the French use the term alto, a reference to its range. The French had their own names: cinquiesme was a small viola, haute contre was a large viola, and taile was a tenor. 'Brazzo' was another Italian word for the viola, which the Germans adopted as Bratsche. The Italians often used the term viola da braccio meaning literally: 'of the arm'. The word viola originates from the Italian language. In the past, the viola varied in size and style, as did its names. The strings from low to high are typically tuned to C 3, G 3, D 4, and A 4. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the violin family, between the violin (which is tuned a perfect fifth above) and the cello (which is tuned an octave below). Slightly larger than a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound.

The viola ( / v i ˈ oʊ l ə/ vee- OH-lə, Italian: ) is a string instrument that is bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. Problems playing this file? See media help.

Electric cello