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The Pöllau Protocol1
Co-Authored by
Franz Zeyringer and Dietrich Bauer

English Translation by Dwight Pounds

(Editor’s note: The Pöllau Protocol derived from discussions and conversations between School Master Dietrich Bauer and Music Director Franz Zeyringer, from July 16-23, 1965, in Pöllau, Austria, and inspired what would become the International Viola Society, established the International Viola Congresses, and helped collect and organize materials that would form part of the Primrose International Viola Archive.) 

I.  Establishment of a research body for the viola.

Both gentlemen are resolved to establish in their [respective] countries (the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria) an organization dedicated to research on the viola. Which ever of the two first succeeds in doing this will place all assimilated materials at the disposal of the other partner. The research facility should be established within the framework of a music academy, a musicological institute, library, foundation or other suitable organization.

The task of this research organization should be:

Establishment of a library for viola literature (original works and arrangements). To make microfilm copies of viola compositions which are not obtainable.

Establishment of a record and tape collection (Discography).

Establishment of a source for collecting writing which pertains to the viola.

To investigate the developmental history of the viola, its synonymy, and its playing technique and pedagogy.

Expansion and publication of the Zeyringer catalog, "Literatur für Viola.”

To sketch the biographies of violists and composers of works for viola.

This extensive collection should in due course attain the highest possible degree of completeness.  The material shall be accessible for all interested parties and could be made available on loan, depending upon circumstances.

Violists, composers, librarians, archivists, publishers, and otherwise interested parties should be drawn into this work and become active members of the research organization.

II. Scheduling VIOLA CONGRESSES at appropriate intervals.

Independent from the establishment of a research body for the viola, the first viola congress can take place during the summer of 1966 in Kassel (FRG), with sometime in the last two weeks of July as the most convenient time. 

A public institution is to be identified which will sponsor and provide the structure and facilities required of the congress (a music academy, Bärenreiter Publishing Company or others). The organization of this first viola congress in the history of Western music would lie in the capable hands of Dietrich Bauer. The final realization of such a congress could be based upon the following:

1.  Distribution of a circular to as many violists possible inquiring whether interest in a Viola Congress really exists. If "yes," determine:

a. what major subject areas should be considered?
b. what contributions could the delegates themselves offer? 

2.  Should the circular inquiry indicate the sufficient potential of active interest, the organization of the congress can begin. The following points must be taken into consideration and resolved:

a. Financing the congress (from state, federal, private, industrial, radio, television resources).
b. Securing location and facilities for the congress.

Should these events come to pass, the invitation to violists, music publishers, composers and other interested parties can follow. To be effective, the invitation should be printed in all possible music publications. Regarding program content, any of the following could be incorporated into a viola congress:

a. Presentations about the viola and its literature, with discussions.
b. Critical survey of literature with highly specialized musical structure (solo
sonatas, etudes, duos,   etc.)
c. Performance of old and new viola literature.
d. Performance on the different viola types, i.e. algometric viola, Ritter viola,
viola d’amore. The exhibition of violas from master craftsmen.
e. Report of the current status of the viola.
f. Discussion of the reprint of the Zeyringer index, "Literatur für Viola," with
special consideration given to the new classifications of viola literature (original and borrowed works, and arrangements). Categorization of selected works in this framework (i.e. concerti by Joh. Chr. Bach and G. F. Händel).
g. Public concerts (with radio, and eventually television) with infrequently heard
viola compositions, i.e. Telemann: Concerto for Two Violas; Mendelssohn: Sonata; Graupner:  Concerto for Viola d'amore and Viola; Music for two, three, four and more violas, among other compositions.
h. Social gathering for making personal contact.

Notes:

1.  The "Pöllau Protokoll" appears in Franz Zeyringer, Die Viola da Braccio (Munich: Heller Verlag, 1988), 140-41, and is gratefully used with the author's permission.