The “Other” Oxford a Key Player in Viol Revival Movement

In the late 1960’s, the English Consort of Viols came to the small university town of Oxford, Ohio. Those of you who have experienced a Midwest winter know that snowstorms can disrupt a concert, which is what happened to the Consort. They were snowed in during a concert tour at the University of Illinois. This changed the course of numerous lives. The Chair of Miami University’s Music Department, Everett Nelson, knew Richard Nickolson, one of the viol players in the ensemble. Mr. Nelson met him while studying English viol fantasies in London. Mr. Nelson brought the Consort to Oxford to wait out the storm. Due to the bad winter weather, they had a lot of time to read consorts and to play beautiful music together. They did this in the "green room," where students and faculty could listen. The students and music teachers at Miami University were so impressed by the sound of the viols and the quality of the music that many of them wanted to learn to play the viol.
The university’s cello instructor Liz Potteiger and violin instructor Elizabeth Lane were particularly enamored with the viol and traveled to London to study with the founding members of the Consort (Marco Pallas and Richard Nickolson) in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Elizabeth Lane still vividly remembers delightful days spent in their flat playing music with these gentlemen, afterwards enjoying cups of tea. Miami University eventually purchased a consort of Michael Heale viols. This made it possible for many faculty members, college students, community amateurs, and even high school students to begin playing the viol. Liz Potteiger required all her cello students to study the viol in a special viol instruction course. She had as many as three consort classes. Many of Elizabeth Lane’s violin students played gamba, as well.
Love of the viol is contagious, and enthusiasm spread throughout the country from this small Ohio town. Elizabeth Lane’s brother (Warren Walker), a cellist at Kansas State University, heard about the viols at Miami University and traveled to London to study viol da gamba. He came back with a consort of viols made by Michael Heale and later bought a Kessler bass.
After the community of Oxford started their viol activity, they contacted people throughout Ohio to play together, including Suzanne Ferguson and Patricia Olds. They started one of the first Viola da Gamba Society chapters in Ohio, involving viol players from Columbus, Yellow Springs, Kentucky, Cleveland, and Oberlin, who met to play consorts. They spent their weekends in churches and homes playing and sharing potluck meals.
Liz Potteiger passed away in March 1998 from emphysema, and the viol tradition in Oxford sadly came to an end. The instruments were stored in closets and were neglected for many years until recently. Several years ago I met Elizabeth Lane, who facilitated the long-term loan of these instruments to my nonprofit chamber music ensemble, the Catacoustic Consort. The Viola da Gamba Society provided funding to have the instruments repaired, so the local community may use them. We are currently recreating a renaissance of the viol in southwestern Ohio through a new generation of viol players, a result of these resurrected instruments and the guidance of the Catacoustic Consort.
As we look to the future of our beloved instrument, it is important to remember our past and the passion of these early music revivalist trailblazers. I am honored to continue the tradition of the viola da gamba in Ohio.

Harpsichord visit...

In the fall of 2007 the Catacoustic Consort received a grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the Abraham, Katie Eleanor, and Natalie Feld Memorial Fund for the purchase of a harpsichord. I was lucky enough to find an instrument that was in fine playing shape thanks to the repair work of Ben Bechtel in Columbus, Ohio. We have since used our new instrument in several concerts and are excited about the programming possibilities that this instrument will afford us - and other music ensembles in the region.
I received a phone call recently that the maker of the harpsichord, James Campbell was in town along with Martha Folts, the woman for whom he made the instrument. In addition, they were with Nina Key, who helped build the instrument. They all came over tomy home to visit this instrument, which was made in 1982 right here in Cincinnati. Soon after making this harpsichord, Mr. Campbell stopped making instruments to become an Episcopalian priest. It was a pleasure to have Jim, Nina, and Martha over. Martha was practically in tears, as she said it was like visiting a family member. She said that the sound has improved greatly and is even richer than she remembered.
Catacoustic is presenting a harpsichord inauguration concert in November 2008, and we hope to have Mr. Campbell back to offer a pre-concert talk to talk about being a harpsichord pioneer in Cincinnati in the 1970's and 80's. Believe it or not, there was a lot of harpsichord activity in the city back then. A historical keyboard society was formed with numerous members. The society hosted conventions, even bringing the famous harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt to Cincinnati to perform and lecture. (Incidentally, Leonhardt performed on Catacoustic's harpsichord!) Noted harpsichord maker Ben Bechtel was also in Cincinnati making instruments, in addition to Larry Brown, the well-known lute maker. Cincinnati played a key role in the revival of early instrument making!

Summer Concerts on the Road

June 6, 2008
Summers are a time of purification after a busy concert season with Catacoustic. It is a time of anticipation and creative renewal. I often find myself on the road, playing concerts with other ensembles or teaching at early music workshops. This summer has been no exception. In May, I traveled to Los Angeles to play on the Ventura Music Festival with the Concord Ensemble. Concord is an early music vocal ensemble that formed when I was a music student at Indiana University’s Early Music Institute. The core members of the group are some of my dearest friends, and those of you who are regular Catacoustic concert attendees would recognize Scott Graff, Pablo Corá, and Dan Carberg from the singers. I am proud to say that the program we performed was inspired by two separate Catacoustic programs: Amore (Monteverdi’s 7th & 8th book of madrigals), and The Sirens of Ferrara (17th-century Italian music for three sopranos). How exciting to know that our programming in Cincinnati is influencing the tide of early music programming across the country! Another musician in this concert was Daniel Zuluaga on theorbo, who played in our January 2008 concert of music from Tous les Matins du Monde. This was a magical week of music making, eating fabulous food, long talks about music and life, and enjoying the change of pace of life in the exciting city of Los Angeles.
June 24, 2008
I just returned from concerts in Oregon with one of my dearest friends, Joanna Blendulf. Daniel Zuluaga played in this concert, as well. This world of early music professionals is a small one! We performed music for two pardessus de viole (the smallest member of the viola da gamba family – a hybrid combination of the gamba and violin). Joanna and I have known each other since we were teenagers, when we first met each other at Interlochen Arts Camp. A lovely friendship and musical partnership has since blossomed. Joanna and I have a very special musical partnership, which one is fortunate to ever find in life. Our musical ensemble could be compared to two friends who have known each other for years. When they get together to talk, the conversation flows naturally and freely, with inspiring things being discussed. People in the audience commented, "It was like there was one person with two bows!" I would have to agree. Playing with Joanna is inspiring. We make each other into better musicians. Our concerts were in Eugene and Portland, and we will present similar programs in Cincinnati and San Francisco in April 2009. Our week of music making led us to decide to record this musical program. So, you can look forward to a new Catacoustic CD in the upcoming year!