Editing Viol (section)

=== 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>