Editing Viol (section)

==Popularity==
[[File:The Smithsonian Consort of Viols.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|The Smithsonian Consort of Viols, a contemporary viol consort]]
{{listen
| type         = music
| filename     = Carl_Friedrich_Abel_(1723-1787)_-_Duetto_in_G-Major,_A35A_from_the_Maltzan_Collection.ogg
| title        = Carl Friedrich Abel (1723–1787) – Duetto in G-Major, AbelWV A3:5A from the Maltzan Collection
| description  = Performed by ViolMedium – Eric Miller & Phillip W. Serna, Viols
}}

{{listen|type=music
 | filename    = Carl Friedrich Abel (1723- 1787) – Sonata in G-Major, WKO155 for Unaccompanied Viola da Gamba for Unaccompanied Viola da Gamba.ogg
 | title       = Carl Friedrich Abel (1723–1787) – Sonata in G-Major, AbelWV A3 for Unaccompanied Viola da Gamba. Composed for the Lady Pembroke, London. GB-Lbl, Add.Ms.31697 (1760–1770)
 | description = Performed by Phillip W. Serna, Viol
}}
{{listen|type=music
 | filename    = Elway Bevin (ca.1554-1638) - Browning à3 from the Baldwin Partbooks, Christ Church Ms. 979-83 (1570s).ogg
 | title       = Elway Bevin (ca.1554-1638) - Browning à3 from the Baldwin Partbooks, Oxford. Christ Church, Ms.979-83 (ca.1570)
 | filename2    = William_Byrd_(ca.1540-1623)_-_Prelude_&_Voluntarie_à4_for_my_Ladye_Nevell,_My_Ladye_Nevells_Booke,_No.26._London._GB-Lbl,_MS_Mus.1591_(1591).ogg
 | title2       = William Byrd (ca.1540–1623) – Prelude & Voluntarie à4 for my Ladye Nevell, My Ladye Nevells Booke, No.26. London. GB-Lbl, MS Mus.1591 (1591)
 | filename3   = John Coprario (ca.1570-1626) - Fantasia à2, VdGS No.1 for Treble & Tenor Viols.ogg
 | title3      = John Coprario (ca.1570–1626) – Fantasia à2, VdGS No.1, Cambridge. King's College, Rowe Mss.112–113 (ca.1620)
 | filename4   = William Daman (ca.1540-1591) - Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La à3 from XX konincklycke fantasien. Mathysz press, Amsterdam (1648).ogg
 | title4      = William Daman (ca.1540–1591) – Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La à3 from XX konincklycke fantasien. Mathysz press, Amsterdam (1648)
 | filename5   = John Dowland (1563-1626) - M. George Whitehead His Almand, Lachrimae, No.21 for Treble, Tenor & Bass Viols with Great Bass Violone in G 1604.ogg
 | title5      = John Dowland (1563–1626) – M. George Whitehead His Almand, Lachrimae, No.21 (1604) 
 | filename6   = Leonora Duarte (1610-1678) - Sinfonia à5, No.7, Oxford, Christ College, Mus.Ms.429.ogg
 | title6      = Leonora Duarte (1610–1678) – Sinfonia à5, No.7 Terti toni, Oxford. Christ College, Mus.Ms.429 (ca.1625–1650) 
 | filename7   = Michael East (ca.1580-1648) - Both alike, Fancy à2, No.3 from the Seventh Set of Bookes (1638).ogg
 | title7      = Michael East (ca.1580–1648) – Both alike, Fancy à2, No.3 from the Seventh Set of Bookes (1638)
 | filename8   = Alfonso Ferrabosco the Elder (1543-1588) - Fantasia 'Di Sei Bassi’ NYp, Drexel 4302, p.255, no.45.ogg
 | title8      = Alfonso Ferrabosco the Elder (1543–1588) – Fantasia 'Di Sei Bassi’ from the Sambrook Manuscript, New York. NYp, Drexel 4302, p.255, no.45 (ca.1613–19)
 | filename9   = Alfonso Ferrabosco the Younger (ca.1575-1628) - Fantasia 'On the Hexachord' à4, VdGS No.10 - The Hexachord Ascending, Oxford, Christ College, Mus. MS.436.ogg
 | title9      = Alfonso Ferrabosco the Younger (ca.1575–1628) – Fantasia 'On the Hexachord' à4, VdGS No.10 – The Hexachord Ascending, Oxford. Christ College, Mus.Ms.436 (ca.1630)
 | description9  = Performed by Phillip W. Serna, Treble, Tenor & Bass Viols with [[Violone]]
}}
{{listen|type=music
 | filename     = Gottfried_Finger_(ca.1660-1730)_-_Intrada_in_A-Major_for_2_Violas_da_Gamba_from_the_Codex_Sünchinger.ogg
 | title        = Gottfried Finger (ca.1660–1730) – Intrada in A-Major for 2 Violas da Gamba from the Codex Sünchinger
 | description = Performed by ViolMedium – Eric Miller & Phillip W. Serna, Viols
}}
{{listen|type=music
 | filename     = Orlando Gibbons (bap.1583-1625) - Fantasia à4, No.1 for Treble, Tenor & Bass Viols with Great Bass.oga
 | title        = Orlando Gibbons (bap.1583-1625) - Fantasia à4, VdGS No.1GB, Oxford. Christ Church, Mss.732-35 (ca.1630)
 | filename2     = Orlando Gibbons (bap.1583-1625) - Fantasia à2, VdGS No.3 for 2 Treble Viols.ogg
 | title2        = Orlando Gibbons (bap.1583–1625) – Fantazia à2, VdGS No.3, Cambridge. King's College, Rowe Mss.112-13 (ca.1620)
 | filename3     = Orlando Gibbons (bap.1583-1625) - Fantasia à3 No.3 (1620).ogg
 | title3        = Orlando Gibbons (bap.1583–1625) – Fantazia à3, VdGS No.3, Oxford. Christ Church, Mus.Ms.21 (ca.1620)
 | filename4     = Orlando Gibbons (bap.1583-1625) - Galliard à3, for Treble & Bass Viols with Great Bass.oga
 | title4        = Orlando Gibbons (bap.1583–1625) – Galliard à3, Dublin. Marsh's Library, IRL-Dm Mss.z.3.4.1–3 (ca.1650)
 | filename5     = Captaine Tobias Hume - Tobacco, No.3 The First Part of Ayres - The Musicall Humours1605.ogg
 | title5        = Captaine Tobias Hume (1569–1645) – Tobacco, No.3 The First Part of Ayres – The Musicall Humours (1605)
 | filename6     = Captaine Tobias Hume (1569 - 1645) - The Spirit of Gambo (The Lord Dewys Favoret) from Captaine Hume’s Poeticall Musicke (1607).ogg
 | title6        = Captaine Tobias Hume (1569–1645) – The Spirit of Gambo (The Lord Dewys Favoret) from Captaine Hume’s Poeticall Musicke (1607)
 | filename7     = John_Jenkins_(1592-1678)_-_Pavan_à6_in_F,_VdGS_No.2_(ca.1667).ogg
 | title7        = John Jenkins (1592–1678) – Pavan à6 in F, VdGS No.2, Oxford. Bodleian Library, Mus.Sch. c.83, II/2 (ca.1667)
 | filename8     = William Lawes (1602-1645) - Aire à4, VdGS No.112, Oxford. Bodleian Library, Mus.Sch.b.2, p.33 (ca.1638-45).ogg
 | title8        = William Lawes (1602–1645) – Aire à4, VdGS No.112, Oxford. Bodleian Library, Mus.Sch.b.2, p.33 (ca.1638–45)
 | filename9     = Thomas Lupo (1571-1628) - Fantasia à3 in d, VdGS No.26 for 3 Bass Viols.ogg
 | title9        = Thomas Lupo the Elder (1571–1628) – Fantasia à3 in d, VdGS No.26 from John Merro's Book, Tenbury Manuscripts of St. Michael's College, Oxford. Bodleian Library, Mus.Sch.d.245-47 (ca.1620–30)
 | description9  = Performed by Phillip W. Serna, Treble, Tenor & Bass Viols
}}
{{listen|type=music
 | filename     = Marin Marais - Pièces a Une Viole du Premier Livre (1686).ogg
 | title        = Marin Marais (1656–1728) – Pièces a Une Viole du Premier Livre (1686) – Prelude – Fantaisie – Allemande – Double – Courante – Double – Sarabande – Gigue – Double
 | filename2    = Marin Marais (1656-1728) – Sonnerie de Sainte-Geneviève du Mont de Paris The Bells of St. Genevieve from La Gamme et Autres Morceaux de Symphonie (1723).ogg
 | title2       = Marin Marais (1656–1728) – Sonnerie de Sainte-Geneviève du Mont de Paris The Bells of St. Genevieve from La Gamme et Autres Morceaux de Symphonie (1723)
 | description2 = Performed by New Comma Baroque
}}
{{listen|type=music
 | filename     = Étienne Moulinié (1599–1676) – Fantasia à4, VdGS No.2 for 2 Treble Viols, Tenor & Bass Viols (1639).ogg
 | title        = Étienne Moulinié (1599–1676) – Fantasia à4, VdGS No.2 for 2 Treble Viols, Tenor & Bass Viols (1639)
 | filename2    = Diego Ortiz (1510-1570) - Recercada primera sobre tenores italianos from Trattado de Glosas, Libro Secundo (1553).ogg
 | title2       = Diego Ortiz (1510–1570) – Recercada primera sobre tenores italianos from Trattado de Glosas, Libro Secundo (1553)
 | filename3     = Robert Parsons (ca.1535-1572) - In Nomine à7, No.2, London. GB-Lbl, Add.Ms.31390 (ca.1578).ogg
 | title3        = Robert Parsons (ca.1535–1572) – In Nomine à7, No.2, London. GB-Lbl, Add.Ms.31390 (ca.1578)
 | filename4     = Picforth - In Nomine à5 for Treble, Tenor & Bass Viols (c.1578).ogg
 | title4        = Picforth (fl.1580s) – In Nomine à5, London. GB-Lbl, Add.Ms.31390 (ca.1578)
 | filename5     = Poynt - In Nomine à5, British Library Add. Ms 31390 for Treble, Tenor & Bass Viols.ogg
 | title5        = Poynt (fl.1570s) – In Nomine à5, London. GB-Lbl, Add.Ms.31390 (ca.1578)
 | filename6    = Henry Purcell (1659-1695) – In Nomine à6, Z.746 for Treble, Tenor & Bass Viols.ogg
 | title6       = Henry Purcell (1659–1695) – In Nomine à6, Z.746 for Treble, Tenor & Bass Viols (1680)
 | filename7     = Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583-1676) - Canzone Prima à4 La Borromea (1630).ogg
 | title7        = Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583–1676) – Canzone Prima à4 'La Borromea' from Sacri Concerti à1–5 con Salmi e Canzoni Francesi (Milan, 1630)
 | description7 = Performed by Phillip W. Serna, Treble, Tenor & Bass Viols with [[Lute]]
}}
{{listen|type=music
 | filename     = Christoph_Schaffrath_(1709-1763)_-_Duetto_in_D-Minor_for_2_Violas_da_Gamba.ogg
 | title        = Christoph Schaffrath (1709–1763) – Duetto in D-Minor for 2 Violas da Gamba
 | description = Performed by ViolMedium – Eric Miller & Phillip W. Serna, Viols
}}
{{listen|type=music
 | filename     = Thomas Tallis (ca.1505-1585) - Why fum'th in sight a4, the Third Tune from Archbishop Parker's Psalter (1567).ogg
 | title        = Thomas Tallis (ca.1505-1585) - Why fum'th in sight à4, the Third Tune from Archbishop Parker's Psalter (1567)
 | filename2     = John Taverner In Nomine a4 from the Missa Gloria Tibi Trinitas, The Baldwin Partbooks, Oxford. Christ Church.ogg
 | title2        = John Taverner (ca.1490–1545) – In Nomine à4 from the Missa Gloria Tibi Trinitas, The Baldwin Partbooks, Oxford. Christ Church, Mss.979-83 (ca.1570)
 | description2 = Performed by Phillip W. Serna, Treble, Tenor & Bass Viols
}}
{{listen|type=music
 | filename     = Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) - Concerto for Recorder and Viola da Gamba, TWV 52a1.ogg
 | title        = Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767) – Concerto for Recorder and Viola da Gamba, TWV 52:a1
 | description = Performed by New Comma Baroque
}}
{{listen|type=music
 | filename     = Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) - A Sad Paven à5 for These Distracted Tymes, MB53 (1649).ogg
 | title        = Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) - A Sad Paven for These Distracted Tymes (1649), Paris. Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Musique, Rés.1122 (ca.1575-1656)
 | filename2    = John Ward (1571-1638) - Fantasia à6, VdGS No.1 for 2 Treble, 2 Tenor & 2 Bass Viols.ogg
 | title2       = John Ward (1571–1638) – Fantasia à6, VdGS No.1, Oxford. Bodleian Library, Mus.Sch.c.45-50
 | description2 = Performed by Phillip W. Serna, Treble, Tenor & Bass Viols
}}
Viols were second in popularity only to the lute (although this is disputed), and like lutes, were very often played by amateurs. Affluent homes might have a so-called ''[[chest of viols]]'', which would contain one or more instruments of each size. Gamba ensembles, called ''[[consort of instruments|consorts]]'', were common in the 16th and 17th centuries, when they performed vocal music (consort songs or [[verse anthem]]s) as well as that written specifically for instruments. Only the treble, tenor, and bass sizes were regular members of the viol consort, which consisted of three, four, five, or six instruments. Music for consorts was very popular in England in [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabethan]] times, with composers such as [[William Byrd]] and [[John Dowland]], and, during the reign of King Charles I, [[John Jenkins (composer)|John Jenkins]], [[William Lawes]] and [[Tobias Hume]]. The last music for viol consorts before their modern revival was probably written in the early 1680s by [[Henry Purcell]].

Perhaps even more common than the pure consort of viols was the mixed or [[broken consort]] (also called Morley consort). Broken consorts combined a mixture of different instruments—a small band, essentially—usually comprising a gathering of social amateurs and typically including such instruments as a bass viol, a [[lute]] or [[orpharion]] (a wire-strung lute, metal-fretted, flat-backed, and festoon-shaped), a [[cittern]], a treble viol (or [[violin]], as time progressed), sometimes an early keyboard instrument ([[virginal]], [[spinet]], or [[harpsichord]]), and whatever other instruments or players (or singers) might be available at the moment. The single most common and ubiquitous pairing of all was always and everywhere the lute and bass viol: for centuries, the inseparable duo.

The bass viola da gamba remained in use into the 18th century as a [[solo (music)|solo]] instrument (and to complement the [[harpsichord]] in [[basso continuo]]). It was a favorite instrument of [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] and acquired associations of both courtliness and "Frenchness" (in contrast to the Italianate violin). Composers such as [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]], [[François Couperin]], [[Marin Marais]], [[Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe|Sainte Colombe]], [[Johann Sebastian Bach]], [[Johannes Schenck]], [[Jean Lacquemant|DuBuisson]], [[Antoine Forqueray]], [[Charles Dollé]] and [[Carl Friedrich Abel]] wrote virtuoso music for it. [[Georg Philipp Telemann]] published his ''[[Twelve Fantasias for Viola da Gamba solo]]'' in 1735, when the instrument was already becoming out of fashion. However, viols fell out of use as concert halls grew larger and the louder and more penetrating tone of the violin family became more popular. In the 20th century, the viola da gamba and its repertoire were revived by [[early music]] enthusiasts, an early proponent being [[Arnold Dolmetsch]].

The treble viol in d and the even smaller pardessus de viole in g (often with only five strings) were also popular instruments in the 18th century, especially in France. Composers like [[Jean-Baptiste Barrière]], [[Georg Phillipp Telemann]] and [[Marin Marais]] wrote solo- and ensemble pieces for treble or pardessus. It was also common to play music for violins or flutes or unspecified top parts on small viols.

Historic viols survive in relatively great number, though very few remain in original condition. They can often be found in collections of historic musical instruments at museums and universities. Here are some of the extant historic viols at [[The Metropolitan Museum of Art]]:

* Division Viol by Barak Norman, London, 1692<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/09/euwb/ho_1990.223.htm |title=Division Viol by Barak Norman, London, 1692 |publisher=Metmuseum.org |date=2012-09-21 |access-date=2012-10-12}}</ref>
* Bass Viol, labeled Richard Meares, London, ca. 1680<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/strd/ho_1982.324.htm |title=Bass Viol, labeled Richard Meares, London, ca. 1680 |publisher=Metmuseum.org |date=2012-09-21 |access-date=2012-10-12}}</ref>
* Bass Viol by John Rose, ca. 1600, London<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/musical_instruments/bass_viola_da_gamba_john_rose/objectview.aspx?page=3&sort=0&sortdir=asc&keyword=viol*&fp=1&dd1=18&dd2=0&vw=1&collID=18&OID=180015128&vT=1 |title=Bass Viol by John Rose, ca. 1600, London |publisher=Metmuseum.org |access-date=2012-10-12}}</ref>
* English viol, unsigned, 17th century in spectacularly original condition<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/musical_instruments/viola_da_gamba_english/objectview.aspx?page=4&sort=0&sortdir=asc&keyword=viol*&fp=1&dd1=18&dd2=0&vw=1&collID=18&OID=180016317&vT=1 |title=English viol, unsigned, 17th century in spectacularly original condition |publisher=Metmuseum.org |access-date=2012-10-12}}</ref>
* Division Viol, School of Tielke, Hamburg, ca. 1720<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/musical_instruments/division_viol_school_of_tielke/objectview.aspx?page=1&sort=0&sortdir=asc&keyword=viol*&fp=1&dd1=18&dd2=0&vw=1&collID=18&OID=180013313&vT=1 |title=Division Viol, School of Tielke, Hamburg, ca. 1720 |publisher=Metmuseum.org |access-date=2012-10-12}}</ref>
* Bass Viol by Matthias Humel, 18th century, Nuremberg<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/musical_instruments/bass_viol_matthias_humel/objectview.aspx?page=2&sort=0&sortdir=asc&keyword=viol*&fp=1&dd1=18&dd2=0&vw=1&collID=18&OID=180015742&vT=1 |title=Bass Viol by Matthias Humel, 18th century, Nuremberg |publisher=Metmuseum.org |access-date=2012-10-12}}</ref>
* Bass Viol, Germany, 18th century<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/strd/ho_1976.8.37.htm |title=Bass Viol, Germany, 18th century |publisher=Metmuseum.org |date=2012-09-21 |access-date=2012-10-12}}</ref>
* Bass Viol by Nicolas Bertrand, Paris, 1720<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/09/euwf/ho_89.4.1343.htm |title=Bass Viol by Nicolas Bertrand, Paris, 1720 |publisher=Metmuseum.org |date=2012-09-21 |access-date=2012-10-12}}</ref>

<gallery widths=200px heights=200px>
Image:Lute-viol ABosse Fr 1635.jpg|Painting by Abraham Bosse, ''Musical Society'', French,<br>{{circa|1635}}. Subject matter depicts amateur social music making, featuring lute, bass viol, and singers, with part books spread around the table. This is also representative of one kind of broken consort, albeit with minimal instrumentation.
Image:Marin-marais.jpg|Portrait of French composer and viola da gamba master [[Marin Marais]], by [[André Bouys]], 1704.
Image:Karl Friedrich Abel by Thomas Gainsborough.jpg|Portrait of [[Carl Friedrich Abel]], composer and viol master—German-born but residing in England most of his life—posed with his viola da gamba. By [[Thomas Gainsborough]], {{circa|1765}}.
File:Bernardo Strozzi 001.jpg|''Gambenspielerin'' (''The Viola da gamba Player''), by [[Bernardo Strozzi]], {{circa|1630}}–1640; portrait is of composer [[Barbara Strozzi]] (1619-1677) –  Gemäldegalerie, [[Dresden]].
File:Viol player in the Honfleur Église Sainte-Catherine.jpg|Viol player in the Honfleur Église Sainte-Catherine, {{circa|1550}}-1600
File:Viola da Gamba Isenheimer Altar.jpg|Viola da gambe and viola da braccio (viol of the leg and violin of the arm). Painting by [[Matthias Grünewald]] (1480–1528) 
</gallery>