Editing Viol (section)

==Modern era==
In the 20th and early 21st century, the viol is attracting ever more interest, particularly among amateur players and [[early music]] enthusiasts and societies, and in conservatories and music schools. This may be due to the increased availability of reasonably priced instruments from companies using more automated production techniques, coupled with the greater accessibility of early music editions and historic treatises. The viol is also regarded as a suitable instrument for adult learners; [[Percy Scholes]] wrote that the viol repertoire "belongs to an age that demanded musicianship more often than virtuosity." There are now many societies for people with an interest in the viol. The first was the Viola da Gamba Society, which was established in the United Kingdom in 1948 (by Nathalie and [[Cecile Dolmetsch]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-09-18 |title=Obituary: Cecile Dolmetsch |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-cecile-dolmetsch-1239923.html |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>). The Viola da Gamba Society of America followed in 1962,<ref>[http://vdgsa.org Viola da Gamba Society of America]</ref> and with over 1000 members in North America and around the world.{{fact|date=August 2023}} Since then, similar societies have been organized in several other nations. In the 1970s, the now-defunct [[Guitar and Lute Workshop]] in Honolulu generated resurgent interest in the viol and traditional luthierie methods within the western United States.{{fact|date=August 2023}}

A notable youth viol group is the Gateshead Viol Ensemble. It consists of young players between the ages of 7 and 18 and is quite well known in the northeast of England. It gives young people the opportunity to learn the viol and gives concerts in the North East and abroad. Ensembles like these show that the viol is making a comeback. A living museum of historical musical instruments was created at the [[University of Vienna]] as a center for the revival of the instrument. More than 100 instruments, including approximately 50 historical violas da gamba in playable condition, are the property of this new concept of a museum: the [[Orpheon Foundation Museum of Historical Instruments]]. All the instruments of this museum are played by the Orpheon Baroque Orchestra, the Orpheon consort, or by musicians who receive an instrument for a permanent loan. The instruments can be seen during temporary exhibitions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.orpheon.org/Seiten/exhibition/exhibit.htm |title=Orpheon Exhibitions Vazquez Collection of Musical Instruments from 1550 to 1780, Viola da gamba, Viola d'amore, Violoncellos, Double Basses |access-date=2007-12-27 |archive-date=2007-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230110846/http://www.orpheon.org/Seiten/exhibition/exhibit.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> They are studied and copied by violin makers, contributing to the extension of the general knowledge we have on the viola da gamba, its forms, and the different techniques used for its manufacture.

The 1991 [[feature film]] ''[[Tous les matins du monde (film)|Tous les matins du monde]]'' (All the Mornings of the World) by [[Alain Corneau]], based on the lives of [[Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe]] and [[Marin Marais]], prominently featured these composers' music for the viola da gamba and brought viol music to new audiences. The film's bestselling [[soundtrack]] features performances by [[Jordi Savall]], one of the best-known modern viola da gamba players. Among the foremost modern players of the viol are [[Alison Crum]], [[Vittorio Ghielmi]], [[Susanne Heinrich]], [[Wieland Kuijken]], [[Paolo Pandolfo]], [[Andrea de Carlo]], [[Hille Perl]] and [[Jonathan Dunford]]. Many fine modern viol consorts (ensembles) are also recording and performing, among them the groups [[Fretwork (music group)|Fretwork]], the [[Rose Consort of Viols]], [[Les Voix Humaines]], and [[Phantasm (music group)|Phantasm]]. The [[Baltimore Consort]] specializes in Renaissance song (mostly English) with broken consort (including viols).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prbmusic.com/productCat50203.ctlg|publisher=PRB Music|title=Elfenbein, Jay|access-date=2011-06-13|archive-date=2011-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123081547/http://www.prbmusic.com/productCat50203.ctlg|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== New compositions ===
A number of contemporary composers have written for viol, and a number of soloists and ensembles have commissioned new music for viol. [[Fretwork (music group)|Fretwork]] has been most active in this regard, commissioning [[George Benjamin (composer)|George Benjamin]], [[Michael Nyman]], [[Elvis Costello]], [[Sir John Tavener]], [[Orlando Gough]], [[John Woolrich]], [[Tan Dun]], [[Alexander Goehr]], [[Fabrice Fitch]], Andrew Keeling, [[Thea Musgrave]], [[Sally Beamish]], [[Peter Sculthorpe]], [[Gavin Bryars]], [[Barrington Pheloung]], [[Simon Bainbridge]], [[Duncan Druce]], [[Poul Ruders]], [[Ivan Moody (composer)|Ivan Moody]], and [[Barry Guy]]; many of these compositions may be heard on their 1997 CD ''Sit Fast''. The Yukimi Kambe Viol Consort has commissioned and recorded many works by [[David Loeb (composer)|David Loeb]], and the [[New York Consort of Viols]] has commissioned [[Bülent Arel]], David Loeb, [[Daniel Pinkham]], [[Tison Street]], [[Frank Russo]], [[Seymour Barab]], [[William Presser]], and [[Will Ayton]], many of these compositions appearing on their 1993 CD ''Illicita Cosa''.

The Viola da Gamba Society of America has also been a potent force fostering new compositions for the viol. Among the music publications of the Society is its New Music for Viols (NMV) a series devoted to newly written pieces. The Society sponsors the International Leo M. Traynor Composition Competition for new music for viols. The competition was first held in 1989 and has taken place every four to five years since. The competition is specifically for consort music for three to six viol that, like the repertoire of the Renaissance, is accessible to accomplished amateurs. The winning pieces are played in concert and also published by the Society. The Society's goal is to stimulate development of a contemporary literature for this remarkable early instrument and thus continue its tradition in modern society.

The Palazzo Strozzi in Florence commissioned composer [[Bruce Adolphe]] to create a work based on Bronzino poems, and the piece, "Of Art and Onions: Homage to Bronzino", features a prominent viola da gamba part. Jay Elfenbein has also written works for the Yukimi Kambe Viol Consort, Les Voix Humaines, and Elliot Z. Levine, among others. Other composers for viols include [[Moondog]], [[Kevin Volans]], [[Roy Whelden]], [[Toyohiko Satoh]], [[Roman Turovsky]], [[Giorgio Pacchioni]], [[Michael Starke (composer)|Michael Starke]], [[Emily Doolittle]], and Jan Goorissen. Composer [[Henry Vega]] has written pieces for the Viol: "Ssolo," developed at the [[Institute for Sonology]] and performed by Karin Preslmayr, as well as for Netherlands-based ensemble The Roentgen Connection in 2011 with "Slow slower" for recorder, viola da gamba, harpsichord and computer.  The Aston Magna Music Festival has recently commissioned works including viol from composers [[Nico Muhly]] and [[Alex Burtzos]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Nico Muhly's "Aston Magna" Commission|url = http://wamc.org/post/nico-muhlys-aston-magna-commission#stream/0|website = Wamc.org|access-date = 2016-01-18|archive-date = 2016-03-15|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160315003127/http://wamc.org/post/nico-muhlys-aston-magna-commission#stream/0|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Aston Magna Music Festival » Calendar 2016|url = http://astonmagna.org/calendar/|website = Astonmagna.org|access-date = 2016-01-18}}</ref> The Italian contemporary composer Carlotta Ferrari has written two pieces for viol: "Le ombre segrete" in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://imslp.org/wiki/Le_ombre_segrete_%2528Ferrari,_Carlotta%2529|title=Carlotta Ferrari – Le ombre segrete|website=Imslp.org|access-date=2016-03-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.swp.de/geislingen/lokales/geislingen/Unkonventionelles-Konzert-mit-aussergewoehnlichem-Klang;art5573,3696467|title=Unkonventionelles Konzert mit außergewöhnlichem Klang|last=Baur|first=Ulrike|website=swp.de|language=de-DE|access-date=2016-03-14}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and "Profondissimi affetti" in 2016, this latter being based on RPS modal harmony system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://imslp.org/wiki/Profondissimi_affetti_%28Ferrari,_Carlotta%29|title=Carlotta Ferrari – Profondissimi affetti|website=Imslp.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carsoncooman.com/restarting-pitch-space/|title=Restarting Pitch Space &#124; Carson Cooman – Composer|website=Carsoncooman.com|access-date=18 April 2021}}</ref>

===Electric instruments===
Since the early 1980s, numerous instrument makers, including Eric Jensen, Francois Danger, Jan Goorissen, and Jonathan Wilson, have experimented with the design and construction of electric viols. Like other acoustic instruments to which [[pickup (music technology)|pickup]]s or [[microphone]]s have been added, electric viols are plugged into an [[instrument amplifier]] or a [[PA system]], which makes them sound louder. As well, given that amplifiers and PA systems are electronic components, this gives the performer the ability to change the tone and sound of the instrument by adding [[effects unit]]s such as [[reverb]] or changing the tone with a [[graphic equalizer]]. An equalizer can be used to shape the sound of an electric viol to suit a performance space, or to create unusual new sounds. Electric viols range from Danger's minimally electrified acoustic/electric Altra line to Eric Jensen's [[Solid body|solid-body]] brace-mounted design. They have met with varying degrees of ergonomic and musical success. In the early 21st century, the Ruby Gamba, a seven-string electric viola da gamba,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ruby-gamba.com |title=solid-body seven-string electric viola da gamba |publisher=Ruby-gamba.com |date=1999-02-22 |access-date=2012-10-12}}</ref> was developed by [[Ruby Instruments]] of [[Arnhem]], the Netherlands. It has 21 tied nylon (adjustable) frets in keeping with the adjustable (tied gut) frets on traditional viols and has an effective playing range of more than six octaves. Electric viols have been adopted by such contemporary gambists as [[Paolo Pandolfo]], [[Tina Chancey]], and [[Tony Overwater]].