Miriam Morris

Session 2.5: Making the Switch to a New Instrument

Session: This presentation deals with the challenges of being a multi-instrumentalist, and outlines the differences between the varied musical styles, ranging from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods. The pedagogy of the viol family and its repertoire with comparisons to that of the modern violin family will be detailed in this presentation. The Baroque and modern cello and their respective bows both require an understanding of style. The varying sizes of gambas provide challenges. I will give tips for making the changes from instrument to instrument.

Miriam Morris teaches viola da gamba and cello at all levels. In the 1980s after study with Wieland Kuijken, she introduced treble and tenor viols at primary and secondary level in South Australia and Victoria. She has taught at The University of Melbourne, Monash University, and University of Adelaide. In addition to doing much work around Australia at Music Festivals as a guest artist, Miriam was a member of Consort Eclectus and the duo, Convivio with Laura Vaughan. Miriam has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Australia and in Sweden, the US and the UK. She has recorded for ABC Classics and Move Records. Her CD, ‘A Souldiers Resolution’, the solo music of Tobias Hume, received critical acclaim. Saraband Music has recently published Miriam’s viol tutor ‘The Art of Playing the Viol’.

Miriam is also a visual artist.