Viols, Rebecs, and Fiddles — Fall 2026 Workshop

For the second event of the VdGS-NE’s 50th anniversary season, on October 10, 2026 from 9:30am – 4:30pm, we will host a full day workshop entitled Viols, Rebecs, and Fiddles: String Consorts at the Tudor Courts, 1515-1558 in the Pioneer Valley at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA.

This workshop is led by Allison Monroe, Director of the Five College Early Music Program, along with coaches James Perretta, Robert Eisenstein, Cat Slowik, and Emily Walhout.

Elizabeth I’s reign arguably (or perhaps even inarguably) represents the golden age of the string consort in England. This can lead us to the mistaken impression that these consorts miraculously sprang up only in the later 16th century. Yet they had been a part of the royal English establishment since her father’s day. Henry VIII employed “the old viol players” early in his reign. Then in 1540 he imported “the new viols” from Italy, which were likely not viols at all, but violins. Alongside these “viol” players, Henry also employed between two and five rebec players. Who were these disparate string players, and what was their function at court? How much interaction might there have been between the ensembles? And what repertoires might they have played? At this October workshop, we will explore these questions, reconstructing and reimagining the earliest stages of the developing English string consort.

Because we are looking at the interaction between viols and violins and rebecs, players of any of these instruments are welcome to participate.

No need to select specific classes! Together we’ll travel chronologically from Henry VIII’s court to the first days of Elizabeth I’s reign. Registrants will be grouped into varying consorts by level for each period.

• Lecture-Demo: Allison Monroe will give some historical background on the era, the composers and players involved, and the instruments used at the time, accompanied by live musical demonstrations by the coaches.
• Class 1: 1515-1540, The Old Viols, Rebecs and Fiddles: The string consorts at Henry VIII’s court
• Class 2: 1540-1550, New Arrivals: Italian violinists arrive in England
• Class 3: 1550-1558, A Time of Transition: Anticipating the viol consort’s golden age

Register by September 28 to reserve your spot!

Late registrants will be accepted only if space is available. If you have any questions about the workshop, please contact our secretary.

You may also register on paper using the flyer.