Hi.   I noticed this thread a little while ago and intended to post, but never had the chance til now.

I appreciate the kind words for violas in general (a bit of a switch from our usual role as "banjo" of the orchestra--I just figure everybody is jealous since we can read alto clef--though I'm losing the ability.) And I certainly appreciate the kind words for my viola accompaniment in "folk music"---(whatever that is---you were going to tell us, weren't you, Bill D?)

Anyway, it's certainly true that at least I find the viola to work well to accompany songs--with some caveats. At least with slow songs it seems to work and it's easier to create a low harmony on viola than on violin--since it's tuned a 5th lower. And when accompanying you don't want to just double the voice. It seems that a low harmony is less intrusive than a higher one. and what you want to do is weave a harmony or counter-melody around the singer, while not obscuring any of the singer's words. That means you can bring the viola part out at the end of a line, but in general you want to stay in the background. What I try to do is just be part of the musical texture.

Interestingly, I find that it's virtually essential to have guitar accompaniment also--that an accompanist must have a very strong sense of the rhythm and recognize chord changes immediately--both most easily provided by guitar. It's much harder to try to accompany a song without a rhythm instrument also present. I won't even try to accompany unless other instruments are also doing so.

Of course, you can play "double fiddle" pieces partnering with a violin--which is also great fun.

And I certainly second Kendall in both his choices of favorite pieces of music--the Bruch Scottish Fastasy is achingly beautiful and very evocative of (my picture) of Scotland. And Beethoven's violin concerto is wonderful--as is the Pastoral Symphony (and a host of his other pieces. I'm also very partial to the 7th Symphony--couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that it has one of his best melodies---start of the second movement-- -and he gives it to the violas--first!!! (A red-letter day for any violist).