Summer 2013 - The American Viola Society

History
Yu Iida was a luthier from Kiso-Fukushima, Japan. Iida constructed this viola specifically for
Primrose, who played on this instrument while in Japan in the mid-1970s. He continued to play on
this viola until the end of his life. Primrose loved everything Japanese and spoke very highly of Iida,
recommending Iida’s instruments to other musicians, including legendary violinists Yehudi
Menuhin and Oscar Shumsky. 2 Primrose recorded Bach’s Cello Suites on the Iida at age seventyfive.
At the time, he was living in Provo and working with David Dalton on the book Playing the
Viola. Dalton noticed Primrose playing Bach and noted the lighter and faster performance style.
Primrose agreed to record the cello suites under the condition that it be a two-CD set, the first being
a collection of his vintage recordings made in his prime. The viola was gifted to PIVA by
Primrose’s wife, Hiroko.
Physical Features
The Iida viola has the following dimensions:
String Length: 14 ⅞ in.
Body Length: 16 in.
Upper Bout: 7 ¼ in.
Middle Bout: 4 ⅞ in.
Lower Bout: 9 in.
This instrument is an exact copy of the Lord Harrington Guarneri that Primrose played. 3 The
broadly cut f-holes are relatively straight, and the delicate scroll follows a shapely pattern. Medium
dark-red varnish has been applied, which is fairly translucent on the top, revealing a more visible
grain. The two-piece back displays light flaming. Marks of wear and use along the top rim indicate
that the viola was played frequently. Despite these marks, the viola is in excellent condition.
Side view of the Iida viola’s body
VOLUME 29 SUMMER 2013 ONLINE ISSUE
47