b) Violas.
Melody in the alto-tenor register and a still higher compass is
assigned to the violas. Cantabile melodies however are not so
frequently written for violas as for violins and 'cellos, partly because
the viola tone is slightly nasal in quality and better fitted for
short characteristic phrases, partly because the number of viola
players in an orchestra is smaller. Melodies confided to the violas
are generally doubled by other strings or by the wood-wind.
Examples:
- No. 4. Pan Voyevoda, duet in Act II 145. A long cantabile
melody in the violas, dolce, in unison with the mezzo soprano voice.
- No. 5. The Golden Cockerel 193. — Flowing cantabile.
- No. 6. Sadko. Symphonic tableau 12. — Muted violas. A short
dance theme, piano in D♭ major. (The same theme in Eng. horn
in the 6th scene of the opera Sadko is slightly more penetrating
in tone).
