JAVS Fall 1996

54

For an independent workshop or camp such as this, student opinion is the most important indicator of success and effective ness. I have rarely heard such positive feed back after such an event. Students valued highly the content and comraderie of this program. Housing facilities and food received excellent marks. The only negative comment was that the camp had been far too short! As a result, VIOLA CAMP '97 has been increased from seven to ten days, August 4 through 14, 1997. If you would like more information about this great viola experience or wish to be A new publication from Erickson Editions brings the Sixty-Seven Etudes for Solo Cello on the Beethoven Quartets by William Van den Burg to the viola world. The Etudes are now available in a transcription for solo viola, fulfilling the dream of the composer to put them to a wider use than for his instru ment only. Van den Burg served from 1927 to 1960 as principal cellist for three major orchestras in succession: the Philly, San Francisco, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, under Stokowski, Monteux, and Wallenstein. A highly regarded protege of Casals and Alexanian, Van den Burg incorporated the modern technique of that school in what are essentially caprices on each movement of the Quartets, drawing on material from all voices and developing it with internal study passages in each etude. Willy's brother Herbert, a retired violist with the St. Louis Symphony, has encouraged this transcription and has given it his blessing. The viola version of the Etudes approaches the spirit of the Quartets even more closely than does the original version for cello. As the middle instrument of the Quartets, the viola shares material drawn from the voices both above and below, assuming their respective characteristics in each instance. Moreover, the writing here evokes the reincarnation of

included in the camp's mailing list you may write to:

The de Veritch Institute ofViola Studies 2711 Brigs Bend Bloomington, IN 47401

or call the institute at (812) 855-3043. I certainly will look forward all year to going back to Pepperdine!

-Donna Lively Clark, Professor of Viola, Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana

Beethoven's late quartet writing in the well known viola passages of the later nineteenth century-especially in the music of Berlioz, Schumann, Brahms, and Wagner, probably the four composers most influential in the development of viola style.

-Ron Erickson, Berkeley, California ronerick@earthlink. net

http:!!home.earthlink.net! "ronerick"