JAVS Summer 1997

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know that the term 'Professor' applies only to fellows who play the piano in brothels." Intent on continuing my education, Riley attached to official correspondence master pieces as: A Dog Named "Sex"; English Schoolteacher Rents Room for Summer Vacation; Petey the Snake (tongue twister); and the Nathan Hale Aptitude Test, as well as countless cartoons, jokes, and one-liners. Still, Maurice and I formed a close professional and personal relationship which lasted far beyond our terms in office. Dinner with the Riley family at congresses was always a won derful experience. Since Maurice Riley spoke very little German and IVS President Franz Zeyringer was not conversant in English, I functioned as their translator. Those six years of sometimes weekly contact with Riley and Zeyringer changed the course of my profes sional life. At the behest of each, I began gathering and organizing data and materials for a history of the American Viola Society. This work was dedicated to Maurice Riley, Myron Rosenblum, David Dalton, and Franz Zeyringer. During President Riley's term of office, several noteworthy developments took place. The AVS By-Laws, written by Maurice, Bob Oppelt, and myself in 1980, were expanded. AVS Executive Board membership moved from being an honorary position to one of hands-on activity and involvement. William Primrose died. International Viola congresses were held in Toronto, Stuttgart, Houston, Isle of Man, and Boston; Dr. Riley attended each. AVS membership increased. The History of the Viola was translated into Italian. Dr. Riley was recipient of the International Viola Soci ety Silver Key in 1985, the International Viola Society Honorary Membership in 1986, and American Viola Society Honorary Membership in 1991. Following his presidency, Congress XXI in Evanston, Illinois, 1993, was dedicated to the collective members of the Riley family. The Maurice W. Riley Viola Award, inaugurated by Rosemary Glyde, became the highest AVS award for scholar ship, teaching, and service to the Society. Inconsistent health did not preclude his participation in viola congresses. During Congress XIX at Ithaca, New York (1991), he presented a lecture, sat on a panel, and

traveled extensively, visiting libraries and archives as he assembled and organized bits of data pertinent to the viola's history. When one of Rosenblum's early articles on the Viola Research Society (VRS) (which later became the International Viola Society) and the Kassel Viola Archive came into his possession, he determined to inquire further about the organization. He began corresponding with Dietrich Bauer, VRS Secretary and Viola Archive custodian, and traveled to Kassel, Germany, in 1971 to meet with Bauer and examine the archive. It is important to re member that at that time there were (1) no independent American or other international sections of the VRS and (2) no viola congresses had ever been held. During a discussion of the concept of "viola congresses," Riley asked his host why such a meeting could not be held in the United States. Bauer answered, "Because we have never been invited." Riley replied, "Well, in that case I am inviting you to have a viola congress in the United States." He told me years later that this invitation was entirely spontaneous but that he saw enor mous potential in an international viola con gress. Bauer was obviously impressed and took the proposal to the VRS Presidium. The minutes of the next meeting read: "Prof. Riley from the USA was in the archive and ex tended an invitation for an international viola congress to be held in the United States." Four years later Dr. Maurice Riley hosted International Viola Congress III at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, and established many of the precedents, for mats, and traditions which are still followed both in Europe and North America twenty two congresses later. Somewhat intimidated to be working in close association with such a renowned scholar, I was ever reluctant to address him as "Maurice." Using "Dr. Riley" seemed stiff and formal for a man of obvious congeniality, therefore I opted for "Professor." After several letters from me which began, "Dear Pro fessor," the following rejoinder arrived from Ypsilanti: "You always address me in your letters as 'Professor.' I can assure you that I am unwor thy of this title by either chosen instrument or locale of performance. I am sure that you