May Online Class Registration
The VdGS-NE continues its new season of special topics workshops. We welcome Carol Lewis to lead a workshop called “Viols and Shakespeare— Why Not?”
This workshop will take place on Sunday May 21, at 2:00PM EDT.
We know that William Shakespeare was a wonderful playwright and poet, and that there was music associated with his works. However, no actual sheet music is included in the Folios or with the Sonnets, so we must go to 16th– and 17th-century musical sources to figure out what actors and audiences might have been expecting to hear. When we start to investigate, we find that Shakespeare refers to quite a few pieces of music that were well known to his public: there are art songs, ballads (bawdy as well as serious), and even rounds, as well as dances such as would have been performed in masques. Remember that Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night “plays o’ th’ viol-de-gamboys”, so we know that viols were part of the mix.
Come try out some tunes that can sound good on any size of viol. Play whatever viol you’d like – there will be music in treble, alto, and bass clefs (maybe even a tiny bit of tablature!) You’ll hear something about where the music came from, and you’ll get some ideas about where you might like to take it, whether it be solo pieces or music that you can play with your friends.
For beginning, intermediate, and advanced players. All players and auditors are welcome. A=415
For more information please consult the Workshop flyer.
The fee for the workshop is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. If you indicate on the signup form that you would like to join the society, your first year’s membership will be free! If this poses a challenge for you, contact our treasurer. The registration deadline is May 17, 2023.
Zoom links and musical examples will be emailed to participants upon successful registration. The video of the class will be available for 30 days after the fact. If the class has already occurred, you can inquire here to gain access to the video.