JAVS Fall 2005

hemmed in /1." string ofthe viola which hitherto was so impeded that, for instance, Weber was already obli gated to add a wind instntrnent (clarinet or oboe) in such cases to strengthen the viola part. The viola aLta wiLL obviate this, wiLL therefore no Longer compeL the com poser to use mixed colors where the pure string character was originally intended. It is desirabLe that the irnproiJed and vastly ennobLed instru ment should be given to the best orchestras, and that its cuLtivation should be urgently recommended to aLL the best viofn players.... Friend Fleischauer (concertmrtster in Meiningen) has aLready declared his wiLLingness to recornmend the Viola ALta for use at the forthcoming FestivaLperformances at Bayreuth. if that lets me hope to see at least two

wlule promoting rhe viola alta all over Europe, evenlllally publishing his own arrangement of the piece fo r viola alta and orchestra. "' In an account of Ritter's demonstration in London in 1886, the Musical Times commenrs that the viola alta is "fast superseding the old viola in Germany." 11 Beyond personal appearances, Ritter furthered Ius cause by writing books on the sub jeer, incl uding Das Geschicht der Viola Alta und die Grundsatze ihres Baues (The History of the Viola AlLa and the Basis or iLs Construction) in 1877 and Die Viola Alta oder AJrgeige (The Viola Alta or Alroviolin) in 188 1. In Das GeschichL, Ri tter rel ates a history of bowed stringed instruments, ponraying the viola aha as the result of a natural progression from the standard viola before outlining

ofthese instntments used in my m·chestra, r regret only not to have six already to assist in the same way.H Indeed, the viola alra did find a place at the flrsLBayreuth Festival in 1876. Rirrer served as principal viola for the premiere of Der Ring des NibeLungen, playing his viola alta. The Bayreuth Festival proved invaluabl e to Lhe dissemination of the viola aha. There Ri ner meL many famous musicians includi ng Franz Liszt, who exp ressed an interest in the larger viola. Liszt was so impressed that he wrote a com position for viola alta and piano, his 1881 Romance Oubliee, bear ing the dedication "To Herr Professor Herman Ritter, the inventor of the viola alta. "~ Ritter performed Lhe piece many times

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