JAVS Fall 1997

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5. Establish a viable working relationship with independent viola organizations, e.g. the Dutch and Danish organizations, the NYVS. 6. Review possible working relationship with other musical organizations such as ASTA, MENC, Violin Society; violoncello, double bass, guitar societies in the USA; European and Asian organizations. 7. Publication: (a) Continue Die Viola I The Viola in a viable format or formats, possibly including the internet. (We probably agree that this subject has become a red herring.) Suggestions have been made on approaching The Strad magazine to oversee this function and devote an annual issue to the viola. This has enormous potential in my view. (b) Publish an international page in each of the section newsletters or journals devoted to key activities in the various sections and important coming events. Such information could be compiled by the IVG President, an international coordinator, or anyone willing and capable of assembling and distributing this information. 8. Promote use of PIVA; publicize and encourage scholars and students to become acquainted with and use PIVA. Publish basic guidelines for (I) interlibrary loans and (2) photocopying restrictions. The basic questions: How will these im portant activities be handled outside the IVG organizational framework? Shall we retain the North American-European alternation of viola congresses? Will it be possible for North Americans and Europeans to come together without the IVG to make this decision? Britain hosts the congress this summer; Canada has it next year; Sweden in the year 2000. Quo vadis? Is the possible long-range goal of an inter national organization lending its prestige to the commissioning of works for the viola now out of reach? Was it ever viable? The AVS has its Primrose Memorial Scholar ship Competition. England for years has very ably sponsored the Tertis Competition and there will be a major viola competition in Russia very soon. Again, is there truly a role for an international viola organization lend ing its sanction, support and prestige to such

competitions? Is support given to luthiers for new designs and quality instrument building? What will happen within the IVG awards structure? I must presume that anyone who ever earned the IVG Silver Viola Clef considers it among his or her most treasured possession. Five North Americans have received the award. Will deserving Americans never again be so recognized? Without the IVG, how will international work on behalf of the viola, its literature, per formers, and scholars progress? Who will do it? Who would one ask for such assistance? Would the independent viola societies be willing to publish an international page or report in each of their newsletters or journals? How will composers, publishers, estates, etc. be encouraged to use and contribute to PIVA? Will PIVA become regarded as less international and more American in scope? Considering that the IVG is in a state of flux at this time, that the process of formulat ing new society bylaws apparently is proving tedious, and that an international election faces us within a year, I wish to make a few recommendations toward an eventual solu tion. I take this action (I) as a violist who strongly believes in the importance and worth ofworking internationally for the viola, (2) as a member of a viable viola organization, the AVS, and (3) as a member of the IVG Bylaws Revision Committee. Many years ago, President Franz Zeyringer told me that he was amazed at the success of the Viola Forschungs-Gesellschaft (VFG, or the Viola Research Society, the IVG's original name), that it had touched a need among vio lists worldwide and had grown international in scope, perhaps by default. Please notice that the label "international" did not appear in the initial title. As international member ship steadily increased, "lnternationale Viola Forschungs-Gesellschaft" (IVFG) was adopted as the organization's second official title. The third name, "lnternationale Viola-Gesell schaft" (IVG), was formed by dropping the Forschungs- (Research) portion of the tide, and Recommendations for an International Viola Organization in the Twenty-First Century