JAVS Summer 2021

friends and colleagues, which was something I had never experienced. Even at Juilliard in the 1960s, violists were treated as “3rd violinists.” Ivan Galamian, Joe Fuchs, and Oscar Schumsky (the Juilliard violin faculty) heard viola auditions along with “Uncle Walter” Mr. Trampler (who later walked me down the aisle at my wedding). I realized at the Ypsilanti Conference that violists were a special breed. I met Nat Gordon, principal violist for the Detroit Symphony, famous for his “money sound”; Maurice Riley was writing his first volume of History of the Viola ; and Franz Zeyringer had compiled his Literature for Viola , both massive undertakings. We all had a love for the sonority of the viola. We weren’t playing viola for “compensatory” reasons. At 22, I had never felt that before. By the conference in Rochester, I was teaching “viola majors” and brought along several students. What a cast for them to see: William Primrose, Francis Tursi, Paul Doktor, Walter Trampler, all playing concerts in the Recital Hall at the Eastman School. Through the years I have seen the development of viola mastery, and the expansion of the repertoire. Myron Rosenbaum had a vision he put together which now has a competition and repertoire expressly written for and inspired by the viola society. Many of those I have remained in contact with have passed away but their passion for the viola, their humanity, and the camaraderie that so often grew from being a violist helped me forge my way into the professional world. I wish I remembered more details of these early congresses, but some specific highlights: the Bloch Suite played by Francis Tursi; Brahms’s F minor Sonata with Paul Doktor; Hindemith played by Walter Trampler; a masterclass with remembrances by William Primrose; and Louise Goldberg (the Eastman Reference Librarian) giving us access to Sibley Library, thus delightfully introducing me to shelves of viola music! It is the flavor and essence of these conferences that I remember most. Wonderful people celebrating a wonderful instrument.

Dwight Pounds

IVC III

I recall finding a large envelope in my mail one day in 1974 at the Music Department of Western Kentucky University where I was employed, and wondering what it contained. Imagine my surprise and delight to find a rather sizeable poster announcing a viola congress to be held that summer in Michigan. My first thought was, “Well, at last somebody has put something together to celebrate the viola!” One may easily conclude that I had never heard of the VFG, VRS or any other viola organization. Specific Memories and Impressions : There were fellow viola players everywhere (over 350 people registered for the congress), there was more viola music than I had ever seen here in one place, and the program variety covered almost every aspect of practical playing and instruction imaginable! Nathan Gordon’s appearance with the US Air Force Symphony marked my first experience with hearing a solo violist playing with a full orchestra. The congress had attracted distinguished visitors from Europe and the VRS was part of an international organization. It was amazement after amazement, and surely I must have impressed people as having come in from a void! That said, I wasn’t totally adrift because of my activities with David Dalton, Jerzy Kosmala, Kathryn Plummer, and William Primrose at Indiana University, but before the conclusion of the congress I had met 19 additional people with whom I would be fully engaged in future congresses. “Died and gone to heaven” is an absurd and trite phrase that normally should be avoided at all costs…except that there is an imbedded element of truth in it regarding my experience with IVC III. I left Ypsilanti determined to attend future congresses, but without the slightest idea of what lay ahead for me.

IVC V

Specific Memories and Impressions : the charm, personality, and eloquence of William Primrose; Heidi Castleman’s lecture matching specific Bach Suites with dance steps, elan and repo ; Marna Street’s lecture demonstration featuring two students from my Alma

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 37, 2021 Online Issue

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