One of the smallest and lightest of the violas described on this web site, the Riviola was designed for players with small hands and petite physical stature who were looking for  relief from an instrument that is simply too big. A direct outgrowth of the more radical Pellegrina, the Riviola is also the most traditional looking of the violas described here. Only the lower right corner has been eliminated to allow for more bow clearance. This is an improvement so frequently and exuberantly praised by violists who play the Pellegrina that it has been kept on the Riviola even though it represents a slight departure from visual tradition.

The other visual change--that of the neck being out of center--is actually easier to see in these photographs than in reality. With photos, the eye easily "takes in" the instrument as a whole. When handed the real thing, players usually don't notice the neck until it is pointed out to them; then they're surprised. And the shifted neck is the key to almost all of the Riviola's innovations. (Be sure to visit the Design Concepts page to learn more about shifted necks.)  Simply stated, the Riviola offers:

* Petite size: Most orchestral violists play large instruments, from 16 1/4 to 17 inches. Until now they've been obliged to in order to get the kind of volume necessary in today's large concert halls. And of course the accompanying problems of back strain, left arm injuries and various types of tendinitis, including carpal tunnel syndrome, are epidemic. At 15 5/8 inches, the tiny Riviola feels almost like a violin. It is actually a so-called 3/4 size viola. It is extremely light and, because of its unusually placed neck, is forgiving to the player's left hand and arm.

* Easy shifting: The Riviola's upper right shoulder is as small as a violin's shoulder. Shifting to the upper positions no longer involves the acrobatics many violists endure as a matter of course on traditional instruments.

* Large, even sound: Small-sized violas are infamous for sounding "twangy" and overly bright on the A string, and then deteriorating into a garbled acoustic mush in the lower register. But that is not the case with the Riviola. Although somewhat more alto in tone quality than the more unusual-looking Pellegrina, it is acoustically even from top to bottom, has a large, rich C string and has volume that, until now, one would only have associated with a much bigger instrument.

You are invited to try one out!

The Instruments ~ Home Page ~ Design Concepts ~ About the Maker
Cost and Availability ~ Requested Artwork