‘My prayers have finally been answered’: Letters to the editor October 2022

Reaching new heights

In The Strad ’s recent newsletter, violist Maxim Rysanov gives insight into his warm-up regimen (bit.ly/3At2teV). He says: ‘Normally I warm up with a four-octave scale, four octaves of arpeggios, and two octaves of double-stops.’ This didn’t ring true for me. How can you play four-octave scales and arpeggios in any key on the viola? Open C string to middle C is one octave, up to a second-finger C in first position on the A string is two, up to C in seventh position (third finger) is three, then you can just about reach the next C above fourth octave on a good day. Now try it starting on a B…

The rest of his advice is well grounded. What resonates with me is the recognition of the problem that viola players may have in getting to the very high positions when you can’t keep the thumb behind the neck and need to reach around the bout to reach the higher notes. Fortunately, this is not a problem for most of the viola chamber music repertoire if the composer keeps the part in a more natural range for the viola.

ROGER MUNDY

London, UK…