Ron, what you say about needing a guitar for the rhythm is very true, and accords with the success we've had with cello and banjo.

But though it's true, it's not always true. There are some traditional songs that (depending on who's singing) don't really need a regular meter or rhythm, and then I find the cello alone for accompaniment works really well. We use in on at least one song that does have a regular pulse too, but flows in a way that just doesn't want a rhythm instrument.

Because of the compromises on size, a viola tends to be an accompaniment rather than a solo instrument. It doesn't have the required "stand out" tone, though there are some luthiers now making very powerful instruments and of course there are always a few star players championing the instrument and getting new stuff written for it.

Anahata