Viola da Gamba Society of America

Proposal to the VdGSA Grant in Aid committee for the purchase of a new 6-string viola da gamba built by Francis Beaulieu.

I joined the VdGSA in 2008 after being initially asked to submit proposals for a new logo design. At that time I had met a number of members living in New Haven, and had been to several playing sessions as a bystander just listening to the music. I was intrigued and captivated by the sound and appearance of the viol, but maybe even more by the community of people who were so generous and open. I had the opportunity later that year to purchase a viol at an estate sale, a Westover viol from 1979, which I did for $600. I drove to Conclave in Rindge, NH that summer to pick up my wife who was playing there, and dragged along my viol. Marie Szuts (Dalby at that time) helped me pick out a rather fine Louis Begin bow to accompany my viol, and taught me the names of the strings and how to play a G-Major scale. I had never played a string instrument before, being primarily a singer and woodwind player.

I took my first real lessons from Doug Kelly, paying him $10 in cash at the beginning of each lesson. I eventually decided to start taking lessons from Ros Morley when she became primarily based in New Haven, taking lessons from her for a little over a year, until my daughter Astrid was born in 2011, and we moved as a family to Ann Arbor, MI. I continued playing there, but only sporadically due to a severe hand and wrist injury which prevented me from doing so.

I attended my first Conclave in 2013, and later that fall made the move with my family to Norway. I continued playing, but was unable to find anyone to play with. It seemed as though every time there was a viola da gamba playing in a concert here, it was someone from Finland, or the Netherlands, no one even in Norway.

In 2020, I was again asked to redesign the website, and to help build it out. This was a longer project, and one that I am proud of having done. During this time of constant dialog with the web design team, Tobi Szuts, who leads the team, would often start the meetings asking what we were playing. That really inspired me to pick up the viol and play more seriously and more regularly. The lack of a good teacher locally has been a hindrance in my learning, but I feel like I have nonetheless made a good amount of progress that I can see and hear.

It was about this time that I realized that to progress further I needed to have a better instrument. The Westover, while being a great and inexpensive beginner instrument, has limitations in its construction which frustrate progress towards my development. I had researched different makers, and had been looking for some time on various websites: VdGSA, VdGS, and others in Europe, to see where I might find a suitable replacement. I eventually settled on the idea of commissioning Francis Beaulieu to make a viol for me. In consultation with John Moran and others, I selected a 6-string bass viol based on an anonymous model from 1649. I have been saving a little from each paycheck since that decision, and have been in discussions with Francis about materials.

At Conclave 2024, Francis and I sat down to talk about numbers, materials, and schedule. We made preliminary plans for all the materials and agreed on a delivery schedule. I paid him 50% of the cost up front, with the balance to be paid upon delivery of the instrument. I am intending to purchase a Rouillard case to transport my viol back to Norway, and I am pairing my new viol with a new bow, also by Francis. I am now next on the list, and would like to secure the rest of the funding I need to make this purchase.

This year I have also found two other viol players in the Bergen area, one a PhD student who is studying academic pedagogy (not related to music) but who is a strong musician who has played around Europe for many years, and a former cellist who played viol many years ago, and who has recently take in up again. I have also been introduced to several early musicians with the Grieg Academy here in Bergen, and we have formed a group, Bergens Consort, which has prepared and performed several concerts starting last December. A better instrument will help me bring more to that ensemble, exposing more people to the beauty of viol music.

I would like in my proposal to ask the VdGSA Grant-in-Aid committee to grant me $2000 towards the purchase of a new viol from Francis Beaulieu.

Thank you for your consideration,

Randolph