JAVS Summer 2021

Mater, Texas Tech, where she was teaching at the time; Walter Trampler sitting alone on an empty chair during an hour of open discussion of matters viola; Michael Tree in a similar situation discussing the viola in the string quartet; Paul Doktor played a full program during the congress and, for an encore, chose to play the Marais Five Dances unaccompanied. Tom Tatton, Baird Knechtel and I were sitting together, enjoying the evening thoroughly. Doktor’s sheer musical mastery in these pieces left us almost stunned—following the performance we didn’t say a word to one another—but years later we all exclaimed, “Do you remember the Marais Dances that Doktor Played?!” This was one of my most enduring memories from IVC V, or for that matter, any viola congress, festival, or competition.

viola congress. However, he enjoyed visiting displays to acquaint himself with contemporary violas, bows, and their makers. Selecting instruments and bows at random and proceeding to play whatever was on his mind (usually Paganini Caprices) during one such visit at Provo, what for Primrose was simply the enjoyment of trying new instruments quickly became an unforgettable impromptu “recital” for some thirty bystanders. Far from the peak of his powers, suffering seriously impaired hearing and terminal cancer in his 76 th year, he nevertheless succeeded in totally astonishing the small audience with his still formidable skill in this incredibly poignant scene. Such was the artistry of William Primrose.

IVC VII

Specific Memories and Impressions : A close examination of American Viola Society records will show that William Primrose never officially performed at a

William Primrose during the celebration of his seventy-fifth birthday at the IVC VII in Provo, Utah (1979). Photo by Dwight Pounds.

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

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