Lionel Tertis and his Viola

Lionel Tertis was one of the great violists of the 20th century. Many of the viola pieces we learn from this time were written for him.

Tertis had a special conception of the viola. He thought the viola should have a full 16 and 3/4 inch size. Thus, he created his own model viola. The Tertis Model Viola is also called T-R Viola, and its main features are its thin neck and fat bottom. The Tertis Model Viola has a really sonorous C-string.

Having said this, it is normally too big for female violists and now the Tertis Model Viola has lost some of its popularity.