Viola

DEFINITION

The second highest pitched member of the violin family. The viol is similar to the violin in most respects, however, it is larger and is a fifth lower in range (whereas the violin has strings tuned to g, d' , a' , and e'' , the viola has strings tuned to c, g, d' , and a' ). Thus, the range of the viola is from C below middle C to A an octave above the treble clef. See also violin.Also [Eng.] viola, [Fr.] alto, [Ger.] Bratsche, [It.] viola, [Sp.] viola.stringed instrument in the violin family. the box is larger than the violin, and it is tuned a fifth lower