James
Williamson
Submitted:
October 6, 2022
Awarded
: $
1500
Contact Information:
James
Williamson
1-55 rue Sauriol O.
Montreal
QC
H3L 1X2
Canada
514-250-3771
Reference 1:
Lisa Terry
Reference 2:
Elinor Frey
Summary of Submitted Materials:
Invoice for viol, Receipt for case deposit, Quote for bow
Submitted Documents:
Submitted Recordings:
Committee Notes:
Project Description:
At the 2018 conclave in Ohio, Francis Beaulieu was showing a large bass viol after Henry Jaye which was part of a commission from the Juilliard School for a matched set of consort instruments. Upon trying it, I noticed that it was both surprisingly easy to play and had a very convincing tone in the upper register as well. Trying this instrument convinced me that Christopher Simpson's recommendation of a 30 inch string length as ideal for the division repertoire had merit. While at that Conclave, I placed an order for a viol of the same model. This past winter my name came up on Francis's wait-list and I took delivery in March of this year. The viol is already showing me new things about how to play division and consort repertoire, even as the breaking in process is ongoing.
While working with the new viol and using it for a few gigs this past spring it became obvious that I both needed a better matched bow than any I currently have and that I needed a more practical case than the vintage flight-case I used to take it home. I am applying for this grant specifically to help cover these additional expenses. For the case, the best option I could find was ordering a custom IKA case from the Czech Republic through Gabriela Guadalajara in New York City. If all goes according to plan I will be able to take delivery at the end of the month when I travel through New York on the way to the PDI in Philadelphia. For the bow, I decided to continue the theme of following Christopher Simpson's recommendations and I have commissioned a bow from Gerhard Landwehr that is based on Simpson. The bow will likely be ready next Spring. The combination of bow and viol will tell me huge amounts about the division repertoire, both for ensemble and solo. I hope to then be in a position to share my discoveries with audiences both live and on recording.
Request Amount:
$
1500
Total Project Cost:
$
17300
Budget and Additional Funding:
The costs of the entire project including the instrument break down as follows:
Viol (including taxes): 18,970.88 CAD = 14,887.30 US
Case (estimated): 1,000 US
Bow: 1,157.02 + 173.55 Tax + 75 Postage = 1405.57 Euros (at current exchange rate this is the same as USD, but if the Euro recovers by next Spring the total will be more).
Total: 17,292.87 USD
The viol is payed in full using funds from household savings. I also have a mid-range professional quality modern cello on consignment at a violin shop. The sale of this instrument will fund the viol, but there is no way of knowing when it will go through.
This grant will allow me to complete the project without having to make another significant withdrawal from savings, thus allowing me much-needed security in this very uncertain time.
Qualifications:
I began to play the viol seriously while in graduate school at the Longy School of Music where I was studying baroque cello. I worked on the solo repertoire in lessons with Jane Hershey, and took Jane's consort repertoire class every semester as well. One semester, the topic of this class was the Fantasia Suite and I fell in love with this quirky and virtuosic corner of the viol's repertoire. Immediately upon graduation, I formed a group called the Cavalier Consort (sadly we are no longer active) devoted to this repertoire. We put together several programs of Jenkins, Simpson, Lawes et al. and performed several miniature tours throughout the Boston area. For the whole period while the group was active, I wished I had a more appropriate instrument for playing this music. Now that I do, I hope to revive this project in Canada, possibly with more extensive touring and recording.
Additionally, I have been active in the consort scene: performing as a core member of the consort Long & Away, teaching at a number of workshops for the VdGS-NE, and most recently, helping to organize a professional viol consort for a program of verse anthems by a choir in Ottawa. I am also privileged to be the coordinator of the Consort Coop at VdGSA conclave.
With the addition of a bass viol that is optimally suited for English ensemble music of all kinds to my collection of instruments, I am now poised to become a leader in the viol community of my new home of Montreal.