British Columbia Chapter of the VdGSA
Early Music Association Links
Viola da Gamba Society of America
The organization of which BC Viols is a chapter. The VdGSA organizes its exceptional viol workshop, called “Conclave”, each summer. It is held at locations rotating from East Coast to Midwest to West Coast. In 2024, Conclave makes a long-awaited return to Oregon. Aside from Conclave, the VdGSA has developed a number of programs to serve viol players everywhere, including programs offered through BC Viols. On the VdGSA website, have a look at the programs offered, the educational videos, and other pages of the website.
Early Music Vancouver (EMV) has been a vital contributor to Vancouver’s cultural scene for more than 50 years. EMV presents a packed performance calendar with 40+ live performances and digital concerts a year, featuring some of the most renowned artists in the early music genre, from all parts of the globe. It also presents concerts in Victoria on Vancouver Island under the Pacific Baroque Series banner.
Early Music Society of the Islands
Based in Victoria, BC, the Early Music Society of the Islands is one of North America’s most active and successful early music specialists. It was founded in 1985 to promote interest in historically-informed performances of music composed before 1800. EMSI presents an annual concert series of music from the middle ages to the early classical age. Each concert spotlights an internationally-acclaimed connoisseur of period music.
The Salt Spring Baroque Music Society presents high-quality artistic performances and concerts in the Gulf Islands and surrounding areas, and offers instructional workshops and seminars on Baroque music to students and amateur musicians of all ages.
Vancouver Viols is a consortium of viola da gamba players. We often meet to explore the rich repertoire written especially for our instruments. Vancouver Viols presents concerts in various configurations, and several groups among its musicians present concerts in Vancouver and beyond, as consorts, in ensembles of mixed instruments, accompanying singers and choirs, or playing for period dancers is period clothing.
The BC Recorder Society was founded in 1962 as a resource for the province’s recorder players. It is one of the oldest recorder societies in North America, and its activities are often open to viola da gamba players.
Early Music Alberta was founded in 2010 by a group of early music enthusiasts in Edmonton under the direction of baroque cellist and viola da gambist Josephine van Lier. Members have access to an online database of concerts that can be viewed online.
Pacific Northwest Viols (PNV) is the Seattle chapter of the VdGSA. PNV hosts several Play Days a year, not too far from here.
Cascadia Viols is the VdGSA Chapter of Oregon. Cascadia also hosts workshops and provides online resources to its members.
Early Music Society of the Islands
The Salish Sea Early Music Festival evolved from the Concert Spirituel, which since the early 1980s, in Seattle and Chicago, has featured many renowned performers. Including unpublished works from the Library of Congress and other libraries, and featuring unusual instruments and instrumental combinations. In the spirit of the Concert Spirituel of Paris, which from 1725 until 1790, offered outstanding sacred, orchestral and chamber music performances, we are excited to present the annual Salish Sea Early Music Festival.
Image: Gerard van Hontorst, The Concert (1623)