About the Society

The Viola da Gamba Society of America (VdGSA) is a not-for-profit national organization dedicated to the support of activities relating to the viola da gamba in the United States and abroad. It is a society of players, builders, publishers, distributors, restorers and others sharing a serious interest in music for viols and other early bowed string instruments.

The VdGSA was incorporated in 1962 by a small nucleus of enthusiastic viol players who frequently met to play consort music in rural Maryland. The concept of an annual Conclave was born at that time, with a small enough membership to be accommodated in private homes. As numbers of members increased, Conclaves eventually began taking place in educational institutions throughout the country. It is the policy of the VdGSA to convene the Conclave in different locations as an outreach to our dispersed membership.

Our membership totals about 1100 individuals and institutions worldwide. Aside from the national organization, there are 13 official chapters and 35 area representatives in the United States, 4 area representatives from Canada, and another 5 around the world.

For links to other viola da gamba societies, as well as instrument makers, performers, and reference information about the viol and early music, see the VdGSA early music links page.

The Society distributes to its members a quarterly Newsletter and an annual Journal, which contains histories, scholarly articles, translations, reviews of books, music publications and recordings -- all relating to the viol. The Society has issued recordings, offers reprints of consort music, and owns a collection of viols donated to us and made available on a rental basis to individuals and consorts.

Learn more about the history of the Viola da Gamba Society of America in a three-part article published in the Journal (vols. 30, 31). Phyllis E. Olson provides an extensive examination of the background, founding and success of the Society in these articles and in her book, published by the Society, Pasttime With Good Company. This book and back issues of most Journals can be ordered.

George Glenn, the founder of the Viola da Gamba Society of America, its secretary from the beginning until 1969 and Editor of its Journal, died at his home on the morning of May 9, 1971 as the result of a heart attack.

He was born in Accomack Country, Virginia, and grew up with the oystermen of Saxis Island, where his father was the storekeeper. He graduated the College of William and Mary and from Tufts Medical School, and studied art at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington and for seven years with Hans Hoffmann. He served as an officer in the Navy in World War II, and participated in the North African and European campaigns.

He was a renaissance man. He combined a lively interest in almost everything with genuine achievement in many fields. He was a physician; a gifted painted, sculptor and photographer; a master craftsman in the making of musical instruments; an inspired cook; a leader in fraternal and veterans' organizations; a scholar, writer, and lifelong devotee of music. Everyone who conversed with him became aware of his way of illuminating some detail with a sudden cross-fertilization from an apparently unrelated discipline.

This insight, and this active and enormous memory, he carried over into his relations with people. He had the gift of friendship, and a wonderful way of remembering everything significant about the hundreds of people he knew.

Those who knew him best will miss him most, but he gave us all the Society, which will remain as a monument to his vision and his personal example, based on the sure knowledge that the joy of music is in personal involvement and participation.