Parthenia - A New Yeare’s Gift
Jan
2

Parthenia - A New Yeare’s Gift

In this program, Parthenia celebrates the New Year with carols, motets, dances and fantasias from Elizabethan England by Byrd, Holborne, Ravenscroft and Morley, joined by soprano Sherezade Panthaki.

Pay What You Will, purchase tickets here.

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Viol Play-in for Food Mission
Jan
4

Viol Play-in for Food Mission

Dear viol lover friends!

Please join us on Sundays from 2pm to 4pm for viol consort fun for all levels!

We have a big room for group play (music provided) and smaller rooms for self-directed projects (bring the charts you want to work on!)

Bring a viol of any size, your talent at any level, and a music stand!
There is no coach's fee for this play-in, but we do invite you to contribute to the Food Mission of Advent Church.

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Viol Play-in for Food Mission
Jan
11

Viol Play-in for Food Mission

Dear viol lover friends!

Please join us on Sundays from 2pm to 4pm for viol consort fun for all levels!

We have a big room for group play (music provided) and smaller rooms for self-directed projects (bring the charts you want to work on!)

Bring a viol of any size, your talent at any level, and a music stand!
There is no coach's fee for this play-in, but we do invite you to contribute to the Food Mission of Advent Church.

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A Golden Wire: See Those Sweet Eyes
Jan
16

A Golden Wire: See Those Sweet Eyes

A Golden Wire kindles Candlemas’ glow and beckons the quiet beauty winter’s turning, with music by William Byrd and John Dowland.

A Golden Wire returns for an evening of Elizabethan music and verse celebrating the warmth and glow of the season's turning. Moving from Twelfth Night to Candlemas, consorts and lute songs will celebrate the quiet wonder of Epiphany in Tudor England.

Guest artist: Karin Weston, soprano

Arnie Tanimoto & Parker Ramsay, co-directors

Thomas Fields, Charlie Reed, Adrienne Hyde, viols

All are welcome to join us after the concert for a reception in the parish hall.

More details can be found here.

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VDGS/GNY Cozy consorts
Jan
25

VDGS/GNY Cozy consorts

Are you itching for some informal consort music to stay warm? Come spend a cozy winter Sunday playing consort music!

Suzy Hertzberg is hosting two consort sessions on Sunday, January 25: 10:30-12:00 and 1:00-2:30 at her Northport home on Long Island. 

Join us in playing four (or five-part) music, depending on how many people sign up. No need to bring any music, unless you have something you really want to play. No coaching, just playing for fun. 

If you’re interested, please email info@vdgs.ny and include which size viol you’d like to play, your playing level (advanced beginner, intermediate, or high intermediate) and whether you have any time constraints. We will put together compatible groups and supply music, stands, and refreshments.

We will provide address and direction details, and we will arrange transportation as needed. 

Venue address will be sent out upon RSVP. Please contact info@vdgsgny.org for specific venue location in Northport, NY.

Reminder: you must be a member in good standing to attend.

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Abendmusik - Adieu mes amours ~ Harmonice Musices Odhecaton
Mar
5

Abendmusik - Adieu mes amours ~ Harmonice Musices Odhecaton

Abendmusik Consort of Viols explores the Franco-Flemish influence represented in the Harmonice Musices Odhecaton (One Hundred Songs of Harmonic Music).

Published in Venice in 1501 by Octaviano Petrucci, The Odhecaton is the earliest known publication of polyphonic music using moveable type. The pieces exist originally as vocal works, however in The Odhecaton the text is not underlayed, lending speculation that these pieces were intended to be played by an instrumental ensemble.

The composers represented include Johannes Ockeghem, Josquin des Prez, Antoine Brumel, Antoine Busnois, Alexander Agricola, Jacob Obrecht, and Hayne van Ghizeghem, along with several anonymous works.

Tickets

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VDGS/GNY Glühwein, carbs, and consort
Mar
21

VDGS/GNY Glühwein, carbs, and consort

This is a member's VdGS/GNY event where you can join us in drinking wine, eating carbs, and playing the consort music of Henry Purcell. No coaching, just playing for fun.

If you’re interested, please email info@vdgsgny.org and say which size viol you’d like to play and whether you would describe your level as advanced beginner, intermediate, or high intermediate.

Venue address will be sent out upon RSVP, New York, New York 11106, United States. Please contact info@vdgsgny.org for specific venue location in Queens, NY.

Reminder: you must be a member in good standing to attend.

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VDGS/GNY Spring Play-in
Apr
26

VDGS/GNY Spring Play-in

Come join us for our Spring Play-in!

The day features morning and afternoon consorts, potluck consorts, novice classes for beginners, all the coffee and snacks imaginable, a silent auction, a membership meeting, and concludes with the Viola da Gamba Orchestra.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Reminder: You must be a member in good standing to attend

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Gotham Midtown Concerts - Abendmusik "Passaggi di Musica" - The Art of Ornamentation
Jun
11

Gotham Midtown Concerts - Abendmusik "Passaggi di Musica" - The Art of Ornamentation

In the 16th and early 17th centuries, musicians loved to show off their ability to improvise and embellish fancy motifs called passaggi, breaking of divisions, or diferencias by adding expressive and technically challenging ornamentation to vocal works. Venice, a center for printing using moveable type, became a hotspot for the publication of instructional sources on the technique. We will explore some of the sources of inspiration including passaggi by Dalla Casa, Rognoni, Bassano, and the Spanish composer Ortiz.

VITA WALLACE , violin
CLAIRE SMITH BERMINGHAM, violin
LAWRENCE LIPNIK, viola da gamba
PATRICIA ANN NEELY, viola da gamba
RICHARD KOLB, lute

Tickets

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Viol Play-in for Food Mission
Dec
28

Viol Play-in for Food Mission

Dear viol lover friends!

Please join us on Sundays from 2pm to 4pm for viol consort fun for all levels!

We have a big room for group play (music provided) and smaller rooms for self-directed projects (bring the charts you want to work on!)

Bring a viol of any size, your talent at any level, and a music stand!
There is no coach's fee for this play-in, but we do invite you to contribute to the Food Mission of Advent Church.

View Event →
Viol Play-in for Food Mission
Dec
21

Viol Play-in for Food Mission

Dear viol lover friends!

Please join us on Sundays from 2pm to 4pm for viol consort fun for all levels!

We have a big room for group play (music provided) and smaller rooms for self-directed projects (bring the charts you want to work on!)

Bring a viol of any size, your talent at any level, and a music stand!
There is no coach's fee for this play-in, but we do invite you to contribute to the Food Mission of Advent Church.

View Event →
VdGS/GNY Casual Consorting
Dec
6

VdGS/GNY Casual Consorting

This is a member's VdGS/GNY event where you can join us in playing (four or five-part) music, depending on how many people sign up.

No need to bring a stand or any music, unless you have something you really want to play. No coaching, just playing for fun.

If you’re interested, please email info@vdgsgny.org and say which size viol you’d like to play, whether you would describe your level as advanced beginner, intermediate, or high intermediate, and whether you have any time constraints.

We will put together two compatible groups and supply music, stands, and some refreshments.

Please refer to Society newsletter for specific venue location in New York, NY.

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Parthenia - When I Had a Voice
Nov
23

Parthenia - When I Had a Voice

When I Had a Voice: New Works for Voice & Viols

Parthenia presents new works for voice and viols by Phil Kline, Richard Einhorn, Frances Blaker and Christopher DiVincenzo, featuring the World Premiere of No Wind No Rain by Richard Einhorn. Special guest: Elizaveta Kozlova, soprano.

The performance will be followed by a reception. Viol players of all levels are invited to bring an instrument, a music stand and join in a consort reading session during the reception, music provided. Composers are also welcome – bring your new compositions for viols and a group will read through your sketches.

Buy tickets: https://parthenia.org/performance/when-i-had-a-voice/

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Sonnambula: A Black Masque
Nov
3

Sonnambula: A Black Masque

  • Stephen A. Schwartzman Auditorium, The Frick Collection (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Featuring Davóne Tines, bass-baritone. Sonnambula opens its 2025–26 Frick residency with a performance inspired by Ben Jonson's Masque of Blackness (1605), an allegorical court entertainment commissioned by Queen Anne of Denmark and originally staged at the Jacobean court. Featuring music by Alfonso Ferrabosco II (only one song by whom survives), the masque depicts African nymphs journeying to England to seek racial purification, reflecting early modern racial anxieties and imperial fantasies. Music by Ferrabosco, Dowland, Byrd; and griot texts from the 13th–18th centuries.

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Do you have an upcoming event featuring viola da gamba? Submit the details of your event below and we will add it to the our calendar!

VdGS/GNY Events

Other Events and Festivals

Viola da Gamba Society of America Annual Conclave
Amherst Early Music
Boston Early Music Festival