Comparison of the Acoustical and Constructional Parameters of the Conventional 16 to 17-in. Viola and the New 20-in. Vertical Viola
Carleen Maley Hutchins · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1964
The development of the small viola as an instrument comfortable to play under the chin has given rise to a special tone quality, but at the same time has produced an instrument with definite problems, which viola players are continually striving to overcome. The 20-in. viola has been developed as the result of applying the theory of violin-type resonances to an instrument tuned in the viola range. Problems of scaling, patterns, and arching designs in relation to resonant placement and tone quality are discussed and demonstrated. [Work supported by the John Simon Guggneheim Memorial Foundation.]