Viol Music

Title: Duets for Bea  (from 40″ to 1′, 25″)
Scored for: Viols (Tn. & B., or Trb. & Tn.)
Available from:  aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0002
Level: Elementary to upper intermediate          
Description: These 12 two-part pieces were written to be used in teaching.  They progress in difficulty and explore various technical aspects of playing in a musical setting.

Title: Carols for Recorders and Viols  (Vol. I)
Scored for: Viols (Trb.1, Trb.2 or Tn.1., Tn.2 & B)
Available from:  aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0003
Level: Elementary to intermediate          
Description:  This is a collection of 92 Christmas carols set up in 4 staves for easy Christmas gig playing. The “Old War Horses” are up front followed by a variety of well-known and less well-known carols. 

Title: Music for My Lady’s Wedding, Vol. I
Scored for: Viols (Trb.,Tn. & B.) optional keyboard – Parts are available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0004
Level: Upper Intermediate
Description: Music for weddings.  Most are settings of Renaissance popular songs and dances. 

1. Pavan (Processional) (c. 4′ – variable timing possible)
2. Come Ashore (c. 2′)
3. Gaillarde “Si pour t’aymer” (c. 2′, 12″)
4. Dearest All Faire (c. 2′, 23″)
5. Dance Suite (c. 6′))
6. Man was for Woman Made (c. 2′, 40″)
7. To The Old, Long Life and Treasure (c. 55″)

Title: Music for My Lady’s Wedding, Vol. II
Scored for: Viols (Trb.,Tn. & B.) optional keyboard – Parts are available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0005
Level: Upper Intermediate
Description: Like the first set, this is music for weddings.  Most are settings of Renaissance popular songs and dances.

1. Pavan (Processional) (c. 3′, 10″) – variable timing possible)
2. Gathering Peascods (c. 1′, 40″)
3. Excuse Me (c. 2′, 50″)
4. Shows and Nightly Revels (c. 3′, 05″)
5. Dance Suite (c. 4′, 40″)
6. The Wedding Night (c. 2′, 45″)
7. Bobbing Joe (c. 1; 40″)

Title: Fragments from Fitzwilliam, Duets for Willie & Will
Scored for: Viols (Trb. & B.) – Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0006
Level: Upper Intermediate to Advanced
Description: These 8 duets are all based, more or less, on bits and pieces of melodies taken from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, Vols. I & II

1. From: Allemanda (c. 2′, 10″)
2. From: Felix Namque (c. 3′, 30″)
3. From: Fantasia (Faire Wether theme) (c. 4′, 05″)
4. From: A Gigg (c. 2′, 23″)
5. From: Treg[ian’s] Ground (c. 4′, 30″)
6. Variations on: Quodlings Delight (c. 3′, 55″)
7. From: Robin (c. 4′, 15″)
8. From: The Carmans Whistle (c. 2′, 38″)

Title: Reflections on Choral Tunes
Scored for: Viols (Trb.1, Trb.2 or Tn.1,Tn.2 & B.) – Parts available.
Available from:  aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0007
Level: Upper Intermediate
Description: These three pieces are four-part settings of famous choral tunes.  They are rather free in form, each ending with clear restatement of the complete tune.

1. Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott (c. 4′, 55″)
2. O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden (c. 4′, 22″)
3. Nun danket alle Gott (c. 3′, 50″)

Title: Music for Viol Consort a5, For Grace
Scored for: Viols (Trb.1, Trb .2, Tn.1, Tn.2 & B.) – Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0008
Level:  Upper intermediate to advanced.           
Description: This set of five-part consort pieces consists of four fantasias and a set of three dance pieces.

1. Fantasia No. 1 a5 (c. 4′)
2. Fantasia No. 2 a5 (c. 5′, 22″)
3. Fantasia No. 3 (On Dowland’s “Weep You No More Sad Fountains”) (c. 4′, 32″)
4. Fantasia No. 4 (On a phrase of Richard Zico (c. 4′, 55″)
5. Three Dances a5
   1. Alman (c. 2′)
   2. Galliard (c. 2′, 15″)
   3. Pavan (c. 2′, 43″)

Title: Preludes for Solo Viol  (from c. 1′, 15″ to 2′ or so)
Scored for:  Solo Viols (B. or Tn.)
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0009
Level:   Intermediate to Advanced           
Description: These solos are intended to be either in the form of improvisations (to “prelude”) or as etudes (to be used as study pieces).

Title: Duets for Lisa and Friends (from c. 1′ to 2′ or so)
Scored for:  Viols (B. & B. or Tn. & Tn.)
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0010
Level: Elementary to High Intermediate
Description: These 12 two-part pieces were written to be used in teaching.  They progress in difficulty and explore various technical aspects of playing in a musical setting.

Title: Fantasies on Dowland Lute Songs, Vol. 1
Scored for:  Viols (Trb.1, Trb.2, Tn. & B.) – Parts available.
Available from:  aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0011
Level: High Intermediate to advanced   
Description: Four fantasias on four Dowland lute song melodies.  Also included are transcriptions for voice and viols (Trb.1, Trb.2, Tn. & B.) of the original lute songs.

1. Shall I Sue (c. 4′, 25″)
2. Flow My Tears (c. 5′, 25″)
3. Dear, If You change (c. 5′, 10″)
4. Weep You No More (c. 4′, 25″)

Title: Music for Three Viols,
Scored for:  Viols (Trb., Tn. & B.) – Parts available.
Available from: prbmusic.com
Catalog: PRB Productions, Contemporary Consort Series No. 35
Level: High Intermediate  
Description: These three-part fantasias explore various approaches to harmony, meter and texture as well as thematic development.

1. Fantasia on ‘La Rosa Enflorece’ (c. 2′, 50″)
2. Fantasia on an Iberian Theme (c. 3′)
3. Prelude and Fugue (c. 3′, 15″) & (c. 5′, 35″)

Title:  Four By Four, Four Consorts for Viol Quartet
Scored for:  Viols (Trb., Tn.1, Tn.2, & B.) – Parts available.
Available from: prbmusic.com
Catalog: PRB Productions, Contemporary Consort Series No. 39
Level: High Intermediate to Advanced   
Description:  These four-part pieces explore traditional contrapuntal techniques, studies in variation form, and techniques of thematic paraphrase.

1. Fantasia (c. 3′, 45″)
2. Echoes From The Irishe Ho-Hoane (c. 4′, 10″)
3. Fantasia on a Theme of Henry Purcell (c. 5′, 05″)
4. Fantasia on If My Complaints (theme by John Dowland) (c. 3′, 10″)

Title: Meditations for Solo Bass Viol
Scored for:  Bass Viol
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0012
Level: Advanced
Description: These Meditations are, as it were, written-out improvisations.

1. Meditation No. 1 (c. 3′, 05″)
2. Meditation No. 2 (c. 2′, 35″)
3. Meditation No. 3 (c. 4′)

Title: Trios for Friends (from c. 1′, 20″ to 2′, 12″ or so)
Scored for:  Viols (Trb., Tn. & B.)
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0013
Level: Progressive – Elementary to high intermediate.
Description: These 12 three-part pieces were written to be used in teaching.  They progress in difficulty and explore various technical aspects of playing in a musical setting.

Title: Trios for G.W. & W. (from 1′, 40″ to 2′, 45″ or so)
Scored for:  Viols (Trb., B.1 or Tn. & B.2)
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0014
Level: Progressive – Elementary to high intermediate.
Description: These 12 three-part pieces were written to be used in teaching.  They progress in difficulty and explore various technical aspects of playing in a musical setting.

Title: Duets for G. & W.  (from c. 1′ to 3′, 45″ or so)
Scored for:  Viols (B.1 & B.2 or Tn.1 & Tn.2)
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0017
Level: Progressive – Elementary to high intermediate.
Description: These 12 two-part pieces were written to be used in teaching.  They progress in difficulty and explore various technical aspects of playing in a musical setting.

Title: Fantasia a4, In Homage to Henry Purcell  (c, 5′, 25″)
Scored for:  Viols (Trb.1,Trb.2, Tn. & B)
Available from: vdgsa.org, New Music for Viola da Gamba, No. 4
Level: Advanced
Description: This fantasia won second prize and was the audience choice in the 1989 Traynor composition contest.  It was one of my first attempts at writing for viol consort with strong connections to the traditional devices used in that repertoire. 

Title: Fantasia on ‘Ye Sacred Muses’  (c. 5′, 45″)
Scored for:  Viols (Trb.1, Trb.2, Tn.1, Tn.2 & B)
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0019
Level: High Intermediate to Advanced
Description:This a5 fantasia is based on William Byrd’s elegy on the death of Thomas Tallis.

Title: Lachrimae Fantasia
Version 1 Scored for:  Viols: (Trb.1, Trb.2 (or Alto), Tn., B.1 & B.2.) & Lute. (c. 6′, 40″)
Version 2  Scored for: Viols (Trb.1, Trb.2 (or Alto), Tn., B.1 & B.2.) – no lute. (c. 7′, 40″)– Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0021
Level: Advanced
Description: There are two versions of this fantasia, one with lute and the other without lute.  This fantasia is based on the famous Lachrimae theme by John Dowland.

Title: Variations On A Theme by Jean (c. 5′, 25″)
Scored for:  Viols (Trb. & B)
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0022
Level: Advanced
Description: This duet is a set of variations upon a theme given to me by Jean Henderson.  

Title: Four Fantasias on Four Favored Tunes
Scored for:  Viols (Trb.1, Trb.2 or Tn.1, Tn.2 & B) – Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0023
Level: Upper Intermediate to Advanced.
Description: These fantasias are based on some of the most well known tunes of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance

1. Ah Robin (c. 3′, 35″)
2. Three Ravens (c. 3′, 25″)
3. Pastime With Good Company (c. 3′, 30″)
4. In Nomine (c. 5′, 25″)

Title: Bach Chorales for Recorders and Viols
Scored for: Recorders (SATB) and Viols Trb., Tn.1, Tn.2 & B)
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0025
Level: Upper Intermediate
Description: This is a collection of 265 Bach Chorales.  These are the original chorales presented in a 4-staff format, using Treble, Treble down, Treble down and bass clefs.  It is hoped that this ensemble format will make these musical wonders more accessible.   

Title: Fantasies on Dowland Lute Songs, Vol II
Scored for:  Viols (Trb.1, Trb.2, Tn. & B.) – Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0028
Level: High Intermediate to advanced   
Description: Four fantasias on four Dowland lute song melodies.  Also included are transcriptions for voice and viols (Trb.1, Trb.2, Tn. & B.) of the original lute songs.

1. Who Ever Thinks Or Hops of Love (c. 4′, 25″)
2. It Was A Time When Silly Bees (c. 3′, 40″)
3. His Golden Locks (c. 4′, 25″)
4. Go Crystal Tears (c. 7′, 15″)

Title: Clouds (c. 6′, 50″)
Scored for:  Viols (Trb., 1, Trb.2, Tn. 1, Tn. 2 , B.1 & B.2) – Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0037
Level: High Intermediate to advanced
Description:  This starts out with an a4 Pavan.  The Pavan then repeats with a new vagan line for another bass viol.  In the third section, the pavan and the bass vagan line repeat with a new vagan line for another treble viol.

Title: Six Fantasias for Six Viols
Scored for:  a6 Viols (Trb., 1, Trb.2, Tn. 1, Tn. 2 , B.1 & B.2) – Parts available.
Catalog: PRB Productions, Contemporary Consort Series No. 88 & No. 93
Available from: prbmusic.com
Level: Advanced   
Description:  These six fantasias for viols were inspired by Martha Bishop.  They owe much to the legacy of Jenkins and Lawes, and other wonderful composers of the English Renaissance viol consort tradition.

Volume 1 (No. 88 in the series)

1. Fantasia a6 no. 1 (c. 5′, 40″)
2. Fantasia a6 no. 2 (c. 4′, 50″)
3. Fantasia a6 no. 3  (c. 5′, 45″)

Volume 2 (No. 93 in the series)

1. Fantasia a6 no. 4  (c. 5′, 05″)
2. Fantasia a6 no. 5  (c. 6′, 40″)
3. Fantasia a6 no. 6  (c. 4′, 45″)

Title: An AMB-itious Undertaking, Ayton, Mead & Bishop
Scored for:  a3 Viols (Trb., Tn. & B)
Available from: The Viola da Gamba Society of America
Level: Advanced
Description: These three connected fantasias were written “by committee” for the VdGSA’s Operation Build a Bass Viol.  Each employs the basic theme of (sol re la mi sol ut mi fa la mi sol – as realized by Sarah Mead) in various ways. As the title indicates, the three composers were Will Ayton, Sarah Mead and Martha Bishop.

Title: Carols for Recorders and Viols, Vol II
Scored for:  Recorders (S.A.T.B.), or Viols (Trb.1, Trb.2 or Tn. & Tn., B.)
Available from:aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0039
Level: Elementary to Intermediate
Description:  This collection is the sequel to the first set of Carols for Recorders and Viols.  This set includes 135 carols and seasonal pieces set up in 4 staves for easy holiday playing. 

Title: Tears of a Dragon (c.10′, 15″)
Scored for:  Reader & Viols (Trb., Tn.1, Tn.2 & B) – Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0041
Level: Advanced
Description: There is a story and a piece of music (a4) reflective of the story.

Title: The Qin (5′, 48″)
Scored for:  Reader & Viols (Trb., Tn.1, Tn.2 & B) – Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0042
Level: Advanced.
Description: There is a story and a piece of music (a4) reflective of the story.

Title: Fantasias on Dowland Lute Songs, Vol. III
Scored for:  Viols (Trb.1, Trb.2, Tn. & B) – Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0046
Level: Upper Intermediate to Advanced.
Description: For more a4 fantasias on Four Dowland lute song melodies. Also included are transcriptions for voice/Trb., Trb., Tn. & B viols) for the original lute songs.

1. All Ye, Whom Love or Fortune (c. 4′, 25″)
2. Flow Not So Fast Ye Fountains (c. 3′, 05″)
3. Come, Heavy Sleep (c. 5′, 10″)
4. Lady, If You So Spite Me (c. 4′, 55″)

Title: 9 Fantasias on Lute-Song Melodies
Scored for:  Viols a5(Trb.1, Trb.2 or (Tn.1), Tn.2, Tn..3 (or B.V.1) & B.V.2) – Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0048
Level: Low Intermediate to Advanced.

Description: These nine a5 fantasias are based on Renaissance lute-songs and are preceded by a transcription for four viols of the original lute-song in order for the players to gain a familiarity with the tune. To illustrate the process of working with a borrowed melody, the principal motifs are identified and labeled. The first three fantasias are intended for low-intermediate to intermediate level. The second three fantasias are intended for intermediate to high intermediate level, and the final three are intended for high intermediate to somewhat more advanced.

1. Come Away, Come Away (Ferrabosco) (c. 3′, 10″)
2. Dearest, All Fair (Lawes) (c. 3′, 15″)
3. What Then Is Love But Mourning (Rosseter) (c. 3′, 05″)
4. Follow Thy Fair Sun (Campian) (c. 2′, 50″)
5. Since First I Saw Your Face (Ford) (c. 5′, 55″)
6. My Love Bound Me With A Kiss (Jones) (2′, 55″)
7. Come Ashore (Coperario) (2′, 45″)
8. Fine Knacks For Ladies (Dowland) (3′)
9. Come, Heavy Sleep (Johnson) 3′, 20″)

Title: 9 Fantasias on Renaissance Popular Songs
Scored for:  Viols a4 (Trb., Tn.1, Tn.2 & B) – Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0049
Level: Low Intermediate to Advanced.
Description: These a4 fantasias are all based on 15th and 16th century popular melodies which were used by various Renaissance composers in their compositions. These fantasias are an attempt to carry on that tradition of basing a new composition on an existing tune.

1. Coment peult (Anon) (c. 3′, 45″)
2. O Venus bant (Anon.) (c. 2′, 50″)
3. Enn vrolic wesen (Pipelare) (c. 4′, 05″)
4. L’Homme armé (Anon.) (c. 3′, 22″)
5. J’ay pris amours (Anon.) (c. 2′, 55″)
6. D’ung aultre amer (Ockeghem) (3′. 25″)
7. T’Andernaken (Anon.) (3′, 18″)
8. In mynen zin (Anon.) (2′, 5″)
9. Myn morken gaf (Anon.) (c. 3′, 18″)

Title: Greensleeves Fantasia, The Process  
Scored for:  Viols a4 (Trb., Tn.V.1, Tn.V.2, & B.V.)
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0086
Level:   High Intermediate to Advanced
Description: This fantasia on the famous Greensleeves tune, along with other materials listed below, were written as demonstration pieces for a workshop on the process of writing fantasias based on borrowed material.  

1. Greensleeves Fantasia (4’)
2. Greensleeves – Basic Tonal Harmonization (1’, 08”)
3. Greensleeves – Extended Harmonization (1’, 08”)
4. Greensleeves Subject & Answer Triple Counterpoint No. 1 (2”)
5. Greensleeves Subject & Answer Triple Counterpoint No. 2 (2”)

Title: Intermezzo (6′,)
Scored for:  Viols (Trb.1, Trb.2, Tn., B.1 & B.2) – Parts available.
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0097c
Level:Intermediate to Upper Intermediate
Description: This pieces was first composed for Phillip Stiles and his Early Music group in 1990.  It was later adapted for viols and string orchestra.

Title: Fantasias on Dowland Lute Songs, Vol. IV 
Scored for:  Viols a4 (Trb.1, Trb.2, Tn. & B.V.)
Available from: aytonw1@gmail.com
Catalog: AWP0100
Level:   High Intermediate to Advanced
Description: Four more a4 fantasias on four Dowland lute song melodies.  Also included are transcriptions for voice/Trb., Trb.2, Tn. & B. viols) for the original lute songs.

1. Stay Time Awhile Thy Flying (2’, 40″)
2. The Lowest Trees Have Tops (3’, 47”)
3. Tell Me True Love (4’, 45”)
4. Come Again: Sweet Love Doth Now Invite (3′, 50″)