JAVS Spring 2007

AVS RETROSPECTIVES:

31 YEARS AGO

Excerpts from Viola Research Society Newsutter 10, April1976, Myron Rosenblum, editor. ' Compiud by Dwight Pounds. VIDEO TAPES OF THE 1975 CONGRESS: The following video tapes made at the Ypsilanti Viola Congress are available as follows : #448 (in color): The Future for Violists Professionally. Panel: Dr. William Primrose; Ralph Aldrich, Universiry ofWestern Ontario; Harold Coletta, Yale Universiry; Burton Fine, Principal Viola, Boston Symphony; Nannie Jamieson, Guildhall School of Music, London; Robert Slaughter, Ball State Universiry. (1 hour, 30 minutes; 2 reels) #449 (in color): Lecture by Dr. William Primrose (50 minutes; 1 reel) #450 (black and white): Problems Related to Recruitment and Training ofYoung Violists. Panel: Laura Sias, President, Michigan ASTA; Henry Barrett, Universiry of Alabama; Dietrich Bauer, Secretary-Treasurer, Viola Forschungsgmllscha[f, Kassel; Louis Kievman, violist/reacher, Los Angeles; A. Baird Knechtel , Weston Collegiate, Canada; Dr. Robert Oppelt, Ciry Universiry of Y.Y. and Past President ofASTA. (55 minutes; 1 reel)

RECENT DOCTORAL DIS SERTATIONS OF INTEREST: 1. "English Viola Music" by Thomas James Tarton. 2. "Contributions to the History and Literature of the Viola d'amore: A Translation and Expansion ofWerner Eginhard Kohler's Beitriige zur Geschichte und Literatur der Viola d'amore" by Myron Rosenblum. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: A Board of Directors will soon be formed to guide the growth and direction of the Viola Research Sociery. Dr. William Primrose has graciously accepted to be the Honorary Chairman. AMERICAN STRING TEACHER: A limited number of copies of the Autumn 1975 American String Teacher featuring three pages of articles and photos of the International Viola con gress in Ypsilanti are still available. To obtain a copy, send $1.00 to [the] Viola Research Sociery. MUSIC ARCHIVE: Efforts are still underway to establish a per manent library of viola music in the USA for use by members of the VRS. Two major educational institutions have expressed interest in housing such an archive. ELECTIONS: Until formal elec tions are held, Dr. Louise Goldberg, violist and research librarian at the Sibley Music

Library, Eastman School ofMusic, has kindly offered to assist me in some of the administrative aspects of running the VRS. We gratefully acknowledge and appreciate her help. BRUCH CONCERTO FOR CLARINETAND VIOLA: The response to our special price for the Bruch Concerto was so excel lent that I have arranged with the publisher for another shipment. The work sells at retail music shops at $7.50. Members of the VRS will be able ro purchase it at $4.50. Shostakovich's last work, Sonata for Viola and Piano, completed one month before his death. I would like to share an excerpt of a letter received from Madame Borissowsky, widow of the late Vadim Borissowskt, who writes: I have no words to express my grati tude for your kindness toward me in sending the most valuabu material about the [1975] Viola Congress. All the Moscow violists are getting acquainted with it with a keen interest. What a great event for the violists ofthe world! What a strik ing demonstration ofthe violists' sol idarity and acknowledgement ofthe importance ofthe viola in music! How happy would be my late hus band! All his lift was devoted to Dearest Mr. Rosenblum, SHOSTAKOVICH VIOLA SONATA: The viola world awaits the publication of

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