What we do
The Viola da Gamba Society is for everyone with an interest in the viol. Our wide range of activities cover a wide spectrum, ranging from a quarterly newsletter (the Viol), and a viol hire scheme. For details, please see below.
| MEMBERSHIP | |
| The annual subscription rate is £27 (£19 in the first year) Membership includes: 4 newsletters a year, free admission to VdGS meetings, a discount on VdGS Music Editions, access to our Viol Hire Scheme, discount on advertising rates in the newsletter, inclusion in members' list (printed annually and distributed to all members), inclusion of link to your website in member's sites on our website |
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| MEETINGS | |
| We hold 3-4 meetings a year, on viol-related topics. The dates and details are advertised in newsletter and on the website You are invited to contribute with ideas for meeting topics Our AGM usually takes place in March |
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| MUSIC EDITIONS | |
| There is an extensive list of VdGS Music Editions, with new publications every year. Members receive a discount and can also subscribe to any newly published editions. |
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| VIOL HIRE | |
| Our viol hire scheme is organised through Bridgewood & Neitzert in Stoke Newington, London. It is available to members only If you have an instrument you would like to make available for this scheme, please contact Bridgewood & Neitzert about this. |
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| COURSES | |
| At present we organise one course per year for complete beginners, mostly in early July in Oxford. Flyers are sent out to all members with the winter newsletter | |
| VDGS INDEX | |
| Available as free download here | |
| JOY DODSON MUSIC FUND | |
| The Joy Dodson Music Fund, financed through donations from members of the Society, assists students with the cost of attending a music course as a viol player or undertaking research related to the viol. | |
| JOURNAL | |
| Our electronic annual journal replaces the (now out of print) Chelys. This publication is available for download here | |
| CHELYS | |
| Chelys, the former annual journal is now out of print. Some hard copies still available, but the numbers are now slowly running out. Downloads of most issues are available here | |
| MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS | |
| The Care of your Viol John Catch Fitting up Viol John Catch Isabella d'Este as a patron of Music Louise Jameson The Jaye Project Michael Fleming, Thomas MacCracken, and Klaus Martius Viol-Making in England c.1580-1660 Michael Fleming A History of the Viola da Gamba Society John Catch Greeting cards all available here |
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| ANNUAL EARLY MUSIC EXHIBITION | |
| Find our stand at the Early Music Exhibition in Greenwich in November every year | |
| PICTURE COLLECTION | |
| The Society has an extensive collection of photos (mostly 35mm slides)
of artworks in which images of viols appear. This is open for members
to examine by appointment with Dr Thomas Munck, the maintainer of
the collection. Contact Dr Thomas Munck |
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| DISCOGRAPHY | |
| A database of recordings featuring the viol constructed by
Peter Berg, Robin Adams and other Society members. Contact Les Stobbs |
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| INSTRUMENTS | |
| The Society's Instruments sub-committee looks into all aspects of the viol family's technology and construction, both historical and contemporary. For further details, members can contact Roger Rose, the Instruments Adviser, on 01798 368132 | |
