JAVS Fall 2007

Showing Gothic and Tudor rouches, the rafters and ceiling of the very vertical recital chamber were rich in natural wood though sparsely ornamented, and with tall, slender windows. Its arched ceiling, which easily suggested an upside-down sailing ship with deck planking removed, caused one ro suspect that it had been designed by a master boar-builder-turned-archi tect. Two smaller recital halls were more than ade quate for our purposes and were within very reason able walking times of the central facility. The opening programs of Congress XXXV featured two concurrent lectures: an updated version of David Dalton's The Art ofPrimrose and Serious Games and Best Tips by Lila Brown. Dalton's subject appears ro be timeless and both those who are largely uninformed about the great violist's career and those who cannot get enough information still approach David follow ing his lectures for additional information and discus sion. Lila Brown, who has worked in Germany for many years, presented a series of mental games and exercises designed for the improvement of intonation and technique. Even experienced players and teachers who volunteered to assist with Brown's presentation sometimes required a second or third attempt to suc cessfully complete the challenges. She performed a recital for solo viola (Day 5). Jiirg Dahler (Swirzerland), principal violist of the Musikkollegium in Winterthur, opened the performance portion of the congress with solid rcadin~ ofSchumann's Miirchmbiltkr, Bloch's Suitefor Viola and Puma ( 1919), and Hans Ulrich Lehmann's The Viola in all moods and senses for solo viola. Dahler was guest soloist two days later in the world premiere ofCharles Bodman Rae's Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (Day 3). Prior to the evening's public concen, Mr. Michael Harbison, The Lord Mayor ofAdelaide, hosted a very-well attended civic reception for the delegates in the Queen Adelaide room at the Adelaide Town Hall. The chain of office surrounding the Lord Mayor's col lar and various coats-of-arms of European royalty on the walls lent a touch of the old world that settled this continent to an already elegant occasion.

ever combination of nerve, effrontery, or prankish humor that would prompt a clarinetist to quote a couple of phrases of the Opus 120 in a room of vio lists, even inattentive ones. His statement was very brief and very subtle, but I took notice... it was also very legitimate.

Day One: Friday, 29 June 2007 - Dwight Pounds (USA)

Australian viola duo Deborah Lander and Daryl Pratt.

Viola Viva, viola ensemblefrom Wellington. NZ.

Congress host Keith Crellin opened the congress in the Elder Conservatorium Recital Hall and personally escorted delegates on a very helpful walking tour of the facilities set aside for recitals, lectures, master class es, and panels. The acoustics were excellent and the room itself was quite interesting architecturally.

Deborah Lander (Australia) and Jutta Pud1hammer Sedillot (Canada), strong players both musically and

J URNAL F THE AMERICAN VIOLA SOCI ETY 18