The viola da gamba (often shortened to “viol”; plural: “viols” or “gambas”) is a fretted and bowed string instrument played upright between the legs like the cello. The viol can trace its heritage to the medieval rebab and vielle and the 15th- and 16th-century vihuela, but it first appeared in its now-familiar shape in Italy in the late 15th century. It quickly became one of the most popular Renaissance and Baroque instruments, and is made in seven different sizes, ranging from the very high pardessus de viole to the lowest viol, the great bass. Viols were heard primarily in ensemble, or consort, music, usually composed for two treble viols, two tenor viols, and two bass viols. The bass viol in particular was popular among both amateurs and professional musicians, and became a solo instrument in addition to its role in consort music. While there is an enormous amount of repertoire for viol consort from all over Western Europe, England especially has a rich history of viol consort music. The royal patronage of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I inspired an English school of performance and composition which, fueled by composers such as William Byrd (c. 1540-1623), John Jenkins (1592–1678), William Lawes (1605-1645), and Henry Purcell (1659-1695), continued to thrive long after the viol had been superseded by the violin family elsewhere in Europe in the early 18th century.

Although composers did not write much music for viol during the 18th and 19th centuries, performers and scholars remained interested in music and instruments from the 15th and 16th centuries, and by the mid-20th century, the “early music revival”  of the 1940s and 50s began making viols popular and accessible again. The late 20th and 21st centuries have seen a resurgence of interest in the viol for the performance of early music. You can read more about the viol and its history at the Viola da Gamba Society of America website or in viol player Elizabeth Weinfield’s essay on the viol for the Met Museum.

In addition to Viols of Houston, Houston is home to Houston Early Music, which brings performers to our area; Ars Lyrica Houston, comprised of local performers; http://www.istanpitta.com, which performs medieval music from Europe and the Middle East; and the Mercury chamber orchestra. Rice University and The University of Houston both also have early music programs.