Upcoming Performances
Les Touches is currently on hiatus for the summer. If you'd like to hire viol players for your wedding or other event, email Pedro Funes-Whittington at [email protected].
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Upcoming Reading Sessions
Viols of Houston will host open sight-reading sessions on the following dates at 10 am:
Saturday, August 10
Saturday, August 17
Saturday, August 24
Reading sessions are open to anyone, from beginners to advanced players. All reading sessions take place at the home of Pedro Funes-Whittington. Email Pedro at [email protected] to let him know you're coming, what instrument you're bringing, and to get the address. Please bring your own music stand and chair if possible.
Saturday, August 10
Saturday, August 17
Saturday, August 24
Reading sessions are open to anyone, from beginners to advanced players. All reading sessions take place at the home of Pedro Funes-Whittington. Email Pedro at [email protected] to let him know you're coming, what instrument you're bringing, and to get the address. Please bring your own music stand and chair if possible.
2025 Workshop with Carol Lewis
![Picture](/uploads/2/9/4/0/29400223/lewis-carol_orig.jpg)
Viols of Houston will sponsor a workshop with Carol Lewis this year either on 1/9-1/12 or 2/6-2/9. If you're interested in attending, please fill out this Google Form to help us schedule a date that works for the most players: https://forms.gle/VC5t32fhg5bXUHPf7
Carol Lewis plays and teaches all sizes of viola da gamba, from the tiny pardessus to the seven-string bass viol. A native New Englander, she studied at Wellesley College and the New England Conservatory of Music, before spending several years studying and performing in Europe. She has performed and recorded with prominent musical ensembles, including Hespèrion XX, the Boston Camerata, and Capriccio Stravagante, and has traveled throughout North America, Europe, and the Far East. Back home again in the Boston area, Ms. Lewis has taught at New England Conservatory and maintains a private studio in Somerville, Massachusetts. She loves coaching viol consorts and mixed ensembles and has done so for many years. She is a founding member of Ensemble Chaconne and Duo Maresienne, as well as the El Dorado Ensemble.
I. The Italian Point of View
The viola da gamba didn’t just get its name from Italy – it also got a lot of music! We’ll explore Italian ensemble music, starting with frottole, and moving on to madrigals and canzonas, including music that can be done with voices and viols or just viols. Composers will include Tromboncino, Frescobaldi, and Mazzocchi. There will be sinfonias and lively dances by Rossi and Kapsberger. And there will be some madrigal fantasias by English composers, such as Coperario and Ward.
II. Songs and Dances for Viols
During the renaissance, musicians all around Europe sang in choirs (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and played instruments in “families”, and the viola da gamba family (treble, tenor, bass) is no exception. We’ll do instrumental music modeled on vocal music, and vocal music modeled on instrumental music, with Italian balletti by Gastoldi, French chansons by Le Jeune and Gervaise, German dances by Praetorius, and frottola-style pieces by Josquin and others. And we’ll be sure to include some of the great four-part songs by Dowland, all with very singable tunes and danceable rhythms.
Carol Lewis plays and teaches all sizes of viola da gamba, from the tiny pardessus to the seven-string bass viol. A native New Englander, she studied at Wellesley College and the New England Conservatory of Music, before spending several years studying and performing in Europe. She has performed and recorded with prominent musical ensembles, including Hespèrion XX, the Boston Camerata, and Capriccio Stravagante, and has traveled throughout North America, Europe, and the Far East. Back home again in the Boston area, Ms. Lewis has taught at New England Conservatory and maintains a private studio in Somerville, Massachusetts. She loves coaching viol consorts and mixed ensembles and has done so for many years. She is a founding member of Ensemble Chaconne and Duo Maresienne, as well as the El Dorado Ensemble.
I. The Italian Point of View
The viola da gamba didn’t just get its name from Italy – it also got a lot of music! We’ll explore Italian ensemble music, starting with frottole, and moving on to madrigals and canzonas, including music that can be done with voices and viols or just viols. Composers will include Tromboncino, Frescobaldi, and Mazzocchi. There will be sinfonias and lively dances by Rossi and Kapsberger. And there will be some madrigal fantasias by English composers, such as Coperario and Ward.
II. Songs and Dances for Viols
During the renaissance, musicians all around Europe sang in choirs (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and played instruments in “families”, and the viola da gamba family (treble, tenor, bass) is no exception. We’ll do instrumental music modeled on vocal music, and vocal music modeled on instrumental music, with Italian balletti by Gastoldi, French chansons by Le Jeune and Gervaise, German dances by Praetorius, and frottola-style pieces by Josquin and others. And we’ll be sure to include some of the great four-part songs by Dowland, all with very singable tunes and danceable rhythms.