ABOUT US
Viols of Houston was founded in 2003 when an informal group gathered on Thursday afternoons to sight-read music. Barrett Sills, principal cellist of the Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera orchestras, organized the first meetings, and served as coach and teacher, and later held workshops where people with an interest in the viol could try it out. Many current Viols of Houston members got their start on the viol in this way. By 2005 membership had increased to the point where the group felt it was time to organize into a regional chapter of the Viola da Gamba Society of America. William Pannill (a frequent host of viol events) then facilitated a donation to the VdGSA to purchase instruments for the Houston chapter (the organization currently owns four), which would then be available to rent to individual members. The chapter was christened Viols of Houston.
Past Presidents:
Deborah Dunham 2005-2010
Brady Lanier 2010-2013
Jordan Witherspoon 2013-2014
ABOUT THE VIOLA DA GAMBA
A viol (or viola da gamba) is a bowed string instrument, held between the legs like the cello. The viol first appeared in Europe in the late 15th century and became one of the most popular Renaissance and Baroque instruments. Viols were heard primarily in ensemble, or consort, music. England, in particular, has a very rich history of composers for the viol consort. Starting with King Henry VIII in 1540 and continuing with Queen Elizabeth, royal patronage may have inspired an English school of performance and composition which, fueled by remarkable composers such as Byrd, Jenkins, Lawes and finally Purcell, continued to thrive long after the viol had been superseded by the violin elsewhere in Europe.
The 20th century has seen a resurgence of interest in the viol for the authentic performance of early music. Houston is home to an active society of viol players, Viols of Houston (a chapter of the national organization, the Viola da Gamba Society of America or VdGSA).
Links:
Viola da Gamba Society of America: www.vdgsa.org
Past Presidents:
Deborah Dunham 2005-2010
Brady Lanier 2010-2013
Jordan Witherspoon 2013-2014
ABOUT THE VIOLA DA GAMBA
A viol (or viola da gamba) is a bowed string instrument, held between the legs like the cello. The viol first appeared in Europe in the late 15th century and became one of the most popular Renaissance and Baroque instruments. Viols were heard primarily in ensemble, or consort, music. England, in particular, has a very rich history of composers for the viol consort. Starting with King Henry VIII in 1540 and continuing with Queen Elizabeth, royal patronage may have inspired an English school of performance and composition which, fueled by remarkable composers such as Byrd, Jenkins, Lawes and finally Purcell, continued to thrive long after the viol had been superseded by the violin elsewhere in Europe.
The 20th century has seen a resurgence of interest in the viol for the authentic performance of early music. Houston is home to an active society of viol players, Viols of Houston (a chapter of the national organization, the Viola da Gamba Society of America or VdGSA).
Links:
Viola da Gamba Society of America: www.vdgsa.org