"As the greatest expert and judge of harmony, he liked best to play the viola, with appropriate loudness and softness." C.P.E. Bach
The viola is the middle voice of the orchestra. It's sound is between the violin and the cello. The casual observer may mistake the viola for the violin because of their similarity in size, closeness in pitch range, and nearly identical playing position. However, the viola's timbre sets it apart. The viola has a rich, dark tone and is more full-bodied than a violin. The viola is an important part in orchestral music, as its mellow voice is frequently used for playing inner harmonies. With out the viola, orchestra music would not sound right.