I wrote of of first and second violins:

>>No matter how many parts the violins play, they are still violins

And Len Fehskens wrote:

>Right, which is why the distinction between firsts and seconds must be more
>than just a scoring convenience.  The distinction is only meaningful if
>they sound different, which they will if the f-holes are facing different
>directions.

Which can serve as an argument against the split setup.  Or for it,
depending on ones view of the matter.

Roger Hecht