course baroque music viola da gamba, violin, flute traverso recorder

We have just officially applied to the Guinness Book of World Records to certify that the Course in Duino will be the world's largest gathering of historical violas da gamba in playing condition in history. There will be all sizes represented, from the five-string pardessus to the violone in D. The viols present in Duino will be protocoled both in text and photographs, with as much information maker, place of origin, year and history as is available for each instrument. This will be published! We would like to also admit violas da gamba made during the years of the first revival, from 1880 to 1920, as a separate category.

FOR THE RECORD: Why such a record?

The Guinness Book of World Records is one of the most widely circulated publications, consulted extremely frequently in libraries and in the internet.

The first goals is to increase the public’s awareness of the viola da gamba as an instrument independent of the violin family, of its rich repertoire, its long history, its revival since 1880 and its increasing popularity today. The viola da gamba and its music is and will remain a part of our common heritage.

The second goal is to sensitize the general public about the need for original musical instruments to be kept in the hands of professional musicians and students. These instruments represent a living heritage only as long as they are professionally played and their voices heard by the public. The finest instrument makers of the past imbued these instruments with a noble sound which they wished to be heard; these instrument do not belong in glass cases nor, even worse, in the basements of museums which pretend to safeguard them for future generations by prohibiting human hands ever to touch them. They belong in the hands of gifted performers and on the concert stage so that their true significance, the heritage they represent the sound they produce may be appreciated by those living today.

The third goal is to motivate musical instrument museums and private collections to make available as many of the countless viols they now so jealously guard in display cases and coffins to performers for concerts and recordings, even if this were only possible on the very premises of their own buildings. This would certainly be a first, and very welcome step towards the recovery of a rich patrimony for our ears.

https://orpheon.org/OldSite/Seiten/Courses/Duino10.htm
https://orpheon.org/OldSite/Seiten/Courses/Duino10-CV.htm

http://web.me.com/vazquezjose/Orpheon/Duino-10.html

As of september 1, there are participants from 18 countries, including Mexico, Chile, USA, Hong Kong...
So PLEASE DO BRING your historical viola da gamba to the course! Remember that it, too, wants to meet again all those dear friends from the good old days!

For our Italian friends (and those, who treasure that language):
http://www.amadeusonline.net/scuola.php?ID=1283519464