JAVS Spring 2014

F ROM THE E DITOR

to form a viola trio and enter into chamber-music competitions. Read all about their journey in our With Viola in Hand department. This issue also features the first prize winner of our 2013 Dalton Viola Research Competition, Julie Michael, who looks at Tōru Takemitsu’s A Bird came down the Walk ; another variation on the theme of “bucking conventionality in pursuit of a dream.” And speak ing of variations on a theme, David Wallace teaches the basics of impro vising your own variations on a popular theme in our Eclectic Violist department. Lastly, this issue includes an In memoriam for John White. Known for his many contributions to the viola world including hosting four viola congresses, helping to estab lish the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, writing the definitive biography of Lionel Tertis, and editing many British viola compositions for publication, John truly went out on a limb and bucked conventional perceptions of the viola. We are all the richer from his many endeavors.

a dream, even if it bucked conven tional wisdom:

• The relatively new Polish Viola Society decided to undertake the herculean task of hosting a viola congress this past September. Andrew Filmer writes about the results. • Violist John Peskey dared to ask his childhood idol, the composer Robert Cobert, to compose a con certo for viola and orchestra. The result was not one, but four new works for viola—and an enduring friendship. • After a couple of false starts, the Paris Conservatory made the radi cal decision to establish a viola class in 1893. Nora Hamme pro vides a brief overview of the sub stantial contributions of their first teacher, Théophile Laforge. • In 1966, with no specific prospect of a performance, the young com poser John Biggs was motivated by Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Suite for Viola and Small Orchestra to write a concerto himself for viola and small orchestra. Biggs reflects on the work’s subsequent

I learned about crowdfunding in November 2010, after reading an article in International Musician . The concept sounded intriguing, and the first project that I backed was a musical written by a compos er and lyricist here in Houston (nei ther of whom I knew; but I liked the project and the local connec tion). Since that time, I have con tributed to more than two dozen diverse projects across many plat forms. If you have ever considered running your own campaign, this issue’s Student Life department is just for you, featuring perspectives from three violists who have run successful crowdfunding campaigns. In addition to the reasons listed there as to why people contribute (Passion, Perk, Participation, and Pride), I am perhaps most inspired that people are going out on a limb to try new and creative means of fulfilling their dreams. This issue features many articles on the theme of people who have dared to pursue

Cordially,

reception and the other viola music in his catalog in our Retrospective department.

David M. Bynog JAVS Editor

• Inspired by the performances at the 2012 Viola Congress, three young Eastman graduates decided

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