Levine Consort of Viols – Session 1

This class offers a unique opportunity for musicians aged 12 and up with prior experience playing the viol (also known as the viola da gamba) to delve into the elegant and expressive repertoire of the Renaissance and early Baroque periods.

The viol, a bowed string instrument with frets, boasts a distinctive sound that blends warmth, clarity, and resonance. The viol family includes the treble, tenor, bass, and great bass viol. In this class, you’ll learn to play as part of a consort, a small ensemble of viols, experiencing the joy of collaborative music-making and the intricate beauty of polyphonic textures.

• Viol Technique: Hone fundamental techniques for playing the viol, including bowing, fingering, and intonation, tailored to the specific demands of consort music.
• Renaissance and Early Baroque Repertoire: Explore a diverse range of music by composers such as William Byrd, John Dowland, Orlando Gibbons, and others, focusing on consort music specifically written for the viol.
• Ensemble Skills: Cultivate essential ensemble skills, including listening, blending, rhythmic accuracy, and following a musical line within a polyphonic texture.
• Historical Performance Practice: Gain insights into the historical context and performance practices of the period, including ornamentation, articulation, and stylistic interpretation.
• Reading from Facsimiles/Original Notation: Explore facsimiles of original manuscripts and gain exposure to historical music notation.
• Understanding of Modes and Early Harmony: Develop familiarity with the modal system and harmonic language prevalent in Renaissance and early Baroque music.
• Performance Experience: Members of the class will have the opportunity to perform as a group at Levine Music recitals.

Who Should Take This Class (Prerequisites):

• Ability to sightread at least one clef fluently and be open to learning a new clef.
• Prior experience playing the viol. (For those with no prior experience playing the viol, Levine offers private, partner and group Introduction to Viola da Gamba classes. Please reach out directly to Jessica Powell Eig at jpowelleig@levinemusic.org for more information.)
• Those seeking a collaborative and engaging musical experience that will expand their skills and knowledge of early music.

Class Format:

• Rehearsal of consort repertoire.
• Group coaching on viol technique and ensemble skills.
• Discussion of historical and stylistic aspects of the music.
• Individual help and guidance from the instructor.

Instrument Loan and Rental Information

• Instrument Loans: A limited number of instrument loans are available to class participants through a generous loan from the Viola da Gamba Society of America. Please inquire about instrument availability when registering.
• Instrument Rentals: Alternatively, rental viols are available from the Viola da Gamba Society of America: https://www.vdgsa.org/rental-viols. Class participants who opt to rent a viol should communicate with the instructor (Jessica Powell Eig at jpowelleig@levinemusic.org) about which size viol (treble, tenor, or bass) to request.