Summer Viols Fest (4 Nights)

One of the most prestigious and well-established summer courses for viol players in the UK, Summer Viols Fest, directed by Alison Crum and Alison Kinder, offers an invaluable chance for viol players with a particular interest in English consort music to work with members of the world renowned Rose Consort of Viols and other enthusiastic viol players.

During this course, you will deepen your knowledge of English viol consort music repertoire for three to six viols, expanding your knowledge of the huge repertoire for viols in consort and better understanding the structure of this historical music.

After busy days of playing, studying, and being in company with fellow viol players, you will have the option of joining evening lectures and demonstrations, further deepening your knowledge of this exquisite form.

This course offers a 3- and 4-night option.

In addition to making music with a growing community of viol players, you’ll also learn or improve essential viol techniques, improving phrasing and tuning and helping you make a more beautiful sound. 

You will deep-dive into specific composers and/or musical styles from other parts of Europe, spanning the 16th to 21st century, playing earlier music on Renaissance viols. In larger group sessions you will also have a chance to sing in ensemble.

You’ll spend most of your sessions in small groups of three to six, playing one to a part. Each group will have a tutor for at least half of each session, and sometimes for longer. Some sessions will be larger scale, receiving full-time tuition. Your tutors will rotate between groups, and groups will change twice each day.

There will also be optional sessions on several other aspects of viol music, such as bowing technique, madrigals and motets, early renaissance repertoire, as well as evening lectures and demonstrations.

This course is designed for viol players at the Skilful level. Please see our Ability Levels Explained for further details. 

You will have experience in playing in consort, will be aware of good tuning, and able to sightread most of the standard viol consort repertoire at a reasonable speed. You should be able to select suitable music from the suggested composers of the day. 

Ideally, you'll be able to play at least two sizes of viol, and should be happy to read at least two clefs. 

If you haven't been on this course before, we’ll ask you to provide details of your experience with the viol to assess you're at the right playing level and ensure that you can be matched in consorts during the course. 

Music will not be provided or suggested by your tutors in advance of the course. Some music will be provided by the tutors when here on campus, but participants are also asked to bring a good selection of their own music, with scores if possible, including some of the standard English repertoire, and for any pieces they would particularly like to be coached on.

Helpful resources for repertoire: The Benslow Music Library also has a good selection music which may be borrowed during the course or in advance by Benslow Music Members. IMSLP is another online resource with a wide range of scores and parts.

There is no specific preparation needed for this course, except to make sure that your instrument(s) is in good playing condition, and able to be tuned quickly.

You will need to bring your viols, with spare strings, a folder to put behind single sheets of music and tuning meter or app if required. 

Please let us know which size of viols you will be bringing with you when you book.