The Viola da Gamba Society of America is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the support, in the United States and abroad, of activities and resources relating to the viola da gamba, other early bowed string instruments, and the music for these instruments.
We are a Society of players, builders, publishers, composers, distributors, restorers, and others sharing a serious interest in these beautiful instruments, their history, and their music, both old and new.
We hold an annual, week-long Conclave in mid-summer at educational institutions around the country with a faculty of internationally recognized performers and scholars.
If this is your first visit to our web site, we suggest that you start with a message from our president.
Join the VdGSA and experience the music, scholarship, and camaraderie!
January 1, 2021 - Attention Composers! Submissions for the Traynor New Music Competition will be accepted from January 1, 2021 to October 1, 2021. Details available here.
December 15, 2020 - Legible Forqueray available to download. Forqueray's original manuscripts are meticulously marked, but the size of the notes is so small the markings are almost inscrutible. Martha Bishop has created a modern edition that retains all his original markings, but in a more legible size. Legible Forqueray is available for download.
July 4, 2020 - Starring the Tenor Viol available to download. Now available for people who love and wish to play tenor-range highlights of the Baroque literature—especially works of J. S. Bach—on the tenor viol. Judy Klotz and Niccolo Seligman have created a treat for tenor players. Starring the Tenor Viol is available for download, or can be ordered in a print version.