Erin Arts Centre :: Archive

The Chamber Music Players

From left: Lauri Kennedy, Lionel Tertis, William Murdoch, Albert Sammons

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Discussing the design of his Tertis Model viola with violin-maker Arthur Richardson, 1938

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Photo: Hulton Press Ltd., Picture Post

Outside Buckingham Palace with Charles Lovett Gill after receiving the CBE, 1950

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Photo: Universal Pictorial Press

Mrs Lionel Tertis (née Lillian Warmington)

"We had no sooner taken our seats in the railway carriage and the train was beginning to move slowly out of the station when the guard came along the corridor and presented me with my viola! The porter had spotted it, reclining in its case all alone on the platform seat where Lillian and I had been busily engaged in conversation, run along the platform, and thrust it into the hands of the guard through the luggage van window as the train was moving off. Such was my absorption in Lillian that I could even forget the existence of my beloved and precious viola which had meant so much to me for so many years." *

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* From My Viola and I: Lionel Tertis. Published Kahn & Averill, London

Lionel Tertis and his bride playing a duet after their wedding ceremony, 25 April 1959, with Sir William McKie at the organ.

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Photo: Sunday Express

Discussing a forthcoming performance of Flos Campi with Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1958

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Photo: Erich Auerbach

At Pablo Casals's Summer School in Zermatt, 1961. Lionel Tertis and Pablo Casals congratulate each other on their joint birthday (both were born on 29 December 1876).

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Photo: A Perrin-Barberini A.G., Zermatt

With Sir John Barbirolli, King's Lynn, 1968. The folder of this photograph is inscribed: 'For dearest Lillian - This picture which I treasure, for I think it does show two fairly aged musicians who I suspect adore each other'.

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Photo: Eastern Counties Newspapers Ltd.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Ruth, Lady Fermoy arrive at the Guildhall, 30 July 1969.

Lillian Tertis: "In 1977 (the year after the centenary of Lionel's birth) a few friends met to discuss the possibility of establishing an International Viola Competition to commemorate the work that Lionel had done on behalf of the viola all through his life, and to honour his memory.

The Royal Philharmonic Society most generously agreed to administer this competition and many distinguished musicians became patrons. However, proving difficult to organise such an event then, we most fortunately heard of a double bass competition which had just taken place on the Isle of Man and one of our committee members - Ruth, Lady Fermoy - had attended a festival there organised by John Bethell to whom the idea of a Viola Competition greatly appealed. Thus, in 1980 the first Lionel Tertis International Competition and Workshop took place in the small and delightful harbour town of Port Erin." *

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* Preface to My Viola and I: Lionel Tertis. Published Kahn & Averill, London

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Aged 25

Special Constable, 1914-1918

After the War

1920s advertisement for Columbia Records

The Chamber Music Players

Rehearsing with Solomon in the early 1930s

Discussing the design of his Tertis Model viola with violin-maker Arthur Richardson, 1938

Outside Buckingham Palace with Charles Lovett Gill after receiving the CBE, 1950

Mrs Lionel Tertis (née Lillian Warmington)

Lionel Tertis and his bride playing a duet after their wedding ceremony, 25 April 1959, with Sir William McKie at the organ.

Performing at a Hallé Centenary Season concert in 1957

Discussing a forthcoming performance of Flos Campi with Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1958

At Pablo Casals's Summer School in Zermatt, 1961. Lionel Tertis and Pablo Casals congratulate each other on their joint birthday (both were born on 29 December 1876).

With Sir John Barbirolli, King's Lynn, 1968. The folder of this photograph is inscribed: 'For dearest Lillian - This picture which I treasure, for I think it does show two fairly aged musicians who I suspect adore each other'.

At 90 giving a speech at EMI House

With Artur Rubenstein, 1973

In his 97th year

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Ruth, Lady Fermoy arrive at the Guildhall, 30 July 1969.