Viol consort

A viol consort is a chamber music ensemble consisting of several viols in different pitches. The high point of music for viol consort was the late Renaissance . In this context, the English composers of the Elizabethan age should be mentioned : John Dowland , Thomas Morley , William Byrd and others. a.

Typical works for viol consort are four, five or six-part works - in the latter case mostly written for two treble, tenor and bass instruments each. Typical four-part works expect a treble, two tenor and a bass viol.

In John Dowland's famous Pavanen for viol consort ( Lachrymae , 1604) the consort has five voices: a treble, three tenor and a bass viol. At Dowland, the consort is accompanied by a lute, keyboard instruments were also used more rarely for accompaniment.