DA GAMBA SOCI ETY PACIFICA VOLUME 2o, NO. 8 APRIL2oo7 A NEWS New Music for Gamba Quartet The Galax Quartet on April 29 recording Shock of the Old (Santa Fe New Music Quartet-David Wilson and Joseph Edelberg, 0513) - she is also a facile collaborator in a workshop 0n Sunday,violins; the Roy 29th Whelden, of April, viola the da Galaxgamba; David setting. In fact, the give and take of the workshop Morris, `cello - will present an unusual and pro- is her preferred model for musical creation. She has vocative concert at the College Avenue Presbyterian produced a wonderful, image-provoking piece for us Church (5951 College Avenue, Oakland CA). Not only titled Envision, somewhat reminiscent, at least in its will there be a world premiere of a quartet recently large-scale structure, of a multi-sectional, multi-tempo commissioned by the quartet from the award winning Toccata of Frescobaldi. San Francisco composer Be]inda Reynolds, there will be a New World premiere Of a quartet by Carl Continued on page seven Friedrich Abel (d. 1787) and a rare performance of the electro-acoustic composer Carl Stone' s Quartet from 1994. These three quartets, taken as a whole, represent April 21, 2007 three distinct approaches to the repertoire of what might be called the `gamba quartet'. The End of Fresno ~.ibel's Quartet no. 4 in A major was part of the first Due to waning interest from both the Northern and string quartet collection ever published in England. Southern contingents, resulting in insufficient (I'm now using the term `string quartet' in the enrollment, the Fresno North/South meet is can- classical sense: two violins, viola and cello.) In fact, its celled. Fresno would have celebrated its 33rd publication date of 1769 makes it one of the birthday this year. Originally conceived and earliest quartets ever published in Europe, for Franz plarmed by Waiter Unterberg, from Van Nuys, and Joseph Haydn, universally recognized as the father our own Lee MCRae, the Gambfl NeatJs hopes to run of the string quartet medium, began writing them a brief history of this event in the May issue. only around 1760 when he was in his late 20s. Abel's A major Quartet was arranged sometime during the uncoached Play Day 18th century -perhaps by the composer himself or someone who knew of the composer's performance The Pacifica chapter will, however, hold an un- predilections -for violin, viola, viola da gamba and coached Play Day at Zion Lutheran Church on April `cello. For our performance, we procured a copy of 21. Please let John Mark (mark_bach8@hotmail. the original manuscript parts - lying overlooked until com) know if you will be coming and what very recently -from the archives of the Lambach instrument(s) you will be bringing. Monastery in Austria. Peter Ballinger, of PRB Publica- tions, has expressed interest in bringing out an edition Gail Ann Schroeder of this delightful work. April 21 also happens to be the day that Gail Ann xtending the repertoire for the `gamba' quartet Schroeder will be arriving in the Bay Area for a will, in large part, be the commissioning of new week's visit. Although she will not be in time for E works from modem composers. We were lucky our Play Day, she will be available for private les- ) have found a first commissiohing partner in Ms. sons that week. To arrange a lesson, email her at `+{eynolds. Not only was she familiar with our [email protected] or phone (until April instruments - she had worked with the early 20) (828) 2984268. She will be staying in Oakland. instrument ensemble American Baroque on the For Sale Visit Your Local Viol Builder! 7-string bass, Bertrand model, rich sound. 6-string bass, Jaye model, bright and delightful to A„Myinu NEw's play. Treble, Hoskins model. Tenors and other bass models also Gamba Nest)s is published 10 times a year by the available. Soft and hard cases custom-fitted to your instrument. Pacifica chapter of the Vlola da Gamba Society. Repairs. Come by to try an instrument, take a shop tour and It vacations in July and August. learn about building viols, or for idle chit-chat. Alexandra Saur, PACIFICA CHAPTER BOARD (510) 558-6927; (510) 559-9563, in Albany Presiden( Ellen Farwell Bow Rehair Alexandra Saur is now offering rehairing for both [email protected] modem and early bows. Top quality hair and quick turnaround! Vice President Ricardo Hofer 510-559-95 63, [email protected]. [email protected] Lazar's Early Music Sect.etary Joan Lounsbery Moeck (recorders and early winds), Kueng, Mollenhauer, Yama- [email protected] ha, Aesthe, Dolmetsch Millenium Recorders, and others in the Treasurer Penni (Pi) Savage near future. Competitive prices, instruments sent on approval, [email protected] personalized service and advice. Bill Lazar, (408) 7344920. Bass viol, Wolfgang Uebel, Celle, Germany, 1977. With carved BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE rose on sound board; 64 cm free string length. Very rrice condi- Rental coordinator John Mark tion. Asking $2100 with unpadded soft case. Bows available mark [email protected] separately. VdGSA chapter Representative Lee MCRae [email protected] Bows (2): William Monical, octagonal stick, ebony frog/nut, 60.5 cm free hair length, 59 gins (treble/tenor,) new hair, asking Coaching Liaison Alexandra saur $650; Unknown, well made, ivory frog/nut, nice balance, 60.5 [email protected] cm free hair length, 70 gins (tenor/bass,) frog crack is repaired, Webmaster Helen Tyrrell - $500. hesuomeapacbell.net Pictures of all are available on my website (www.bill-lazar.com) Membership List coordinator Roy whelden on the `used instruments' page. Contact Bill Lazar, jblazar@aol. [email protected] com, (408) 7344920 for more information. Newsletter Editor Julie Morrisett Ruby Instruments [email protected] The world's first production model of a 7-string solid body Peter Ballinger electnc viola da gamba! Play traditional and crossover music on [email protected] one instrument! Coming soon! The Ruby dock, an attachment to John Domenburg [email protected] hold the Ruby conventionally as well as to play on a stand! To Robin Easterbrook [email protected] hear and play the Ruby, contact Kirby, (510) 317-0834 or (510) Mary Elliott [email protected] 332-0834 (24-hour message); gambaguyensn.com. ]ulie Jeffrey Treble Viol Available to Rent j]effrb#k[efib# Treble viol by Michael Plant available for rent at reasonable Elisabeth Reed [email protected] price. Contact Lee MCRae, (510) 848-5591, [email protected]. Lyle York [email protected] Plant Tenor Viol For Sale String length 54.6 cm, excellent condition, includes snakewood Landwehr heavy treble/light tenor bow (58g, made in Holland), Contributrions Welcome Kingham case. er,300. Contact Jill Geary, Alameda, (858) 382- Send concert listings and reviews, opinions, 7046 or [email protected]. workshop experiences, CD reviews, drawings, or photos to Julie Morrisett, Editor, 1148 Norwood Ave. #1, Oakland, CA, 94610, or [email protected]; (510) 444-2380. aassified Ads Short classified advertisements in Gamba News Pacifica Play Day Schedule are free to VdGS-Pacifica members. For non- members, ads are $5 per issue. Please mail your 2006-2007 check made out to VdGS-Pacifica to Judie `-MOITisett, Editor, 1148 Norwood Ave. #1, DATE COACH Oakland, CA 94610. April 21 Uncoached Play Day www.pacificaviols.org May 12 william Skeen Our VdGS-Pacifica chapter website is main- tained and regularly updated by Helen Tyrrell. June 9 Our Party at St. Alban's It contains the Viol Player's Calendar, along with a list of local teachers, sources for music, Each month, as soon as you receive your Gamba News (or supplies, inexpensive viols, repairs, and travel before), please call or email John Mark, our peerless con- tips. The VdGSA (national) website is www. vdgsa.org. sort arranger, to tell him you will attend the upcondng play day and what size(s) you will bring. (510) 531-1471; mark_ Rent a Viol [email protected]. Pacifica has trebles, tenors and basses to rent. Donations of viols and bows to our rental pro- All play days except those at Stanford are held at Zion gram are extremely welcome-we'll accept them Lutheran Church, 5201 Park Boulevard, Oakland. The church in any condition. Rental fees range from $15 is just west of the Park Boulevard exit off Highway 13. We to $30 per month. In charge of rentals is John meet at 9:15 am for the coached session. Mark, 10 I-[olyrood Manor, Oakland, CA 94611; (510) 531 -1471; [email protected]. Sheet music, coffee and tea will be supplied. Please bring ei- ther a sack lunch for yourself or a dish or drinks to share at our Donating to VdG S-Pacifica The Pacifica Chapter is an affiliate of the San customary potluck. The church has a microwave we can use. Francisco Early Music Society (SFEMS), and There is also a Mexican restaurant close by. along with other privileges this affiliation con- Please bring a music stand and any consort music of your own fers, we can receive tax-deductible donations. These include not only cash but viols, bows, you'd like to play. Consorts are formed based on the informa- ~ musical scores, method books, tuners, stands tion you provide to John Mark. Newcomers and rank begin- and other viol paraphernalia. Especially since ners are welcome. we now have a Youth Project working to teach EIE young people the viol, please remember the chapter when you are cleaning out your music room. Cash donations can be used for new rental in- struments and bows, new music for the chapter Membership updates playing library, the Pacifica Youth Project, or our scholarship fund.