Play along with our recordings of viol consort music designed for you.

We have a variety of Elizabethan Play Alongs from easy to advanced, with English viol music by Gibbons, Tomkins, Lawes, Simpson and others. Our recordings are designed to allow you to play along with different parts in a comfortable format. As well, you can enjoy listening to the entire piece. Each Elizabethan Play Along allows a musically satisfying experience and is useful for players at all levels. In addition, we accept custom orders. Prices are from $35 to $49.

Try a Play Along

Click here to hear Diego Ortiz, Recercada Segunda from Elizabethan Play Along Ortiz Set 1. To play along, set the speaker volume control to the left and you will hear just the lute ostinato. [For music, scroll down to Sheet Music.]
Click here to hear Orlando Gibbons, Fantasia No. 3 from Elizabethan Play Along Gibbons Trios nos. 1-4. To play the treble viol part, set the speaker volume control to the left; to play the bass viol, set it to the right.
Click here to hear Thomas Tomkins UtReMi from Elizabethan Play Along Simpson, Locke, Tomkins ADVANCED. To play Bass 2, set the speaker volume to the left; to play Bass 1, set it to the right.

Details

Recordings

Alexander Rakov designed the recording process, using the best resources available to us. All Elizabethan Play Alongs come with a recording of the entire piece and with each piece mixed for playing along with two separate parts. By turning down the left speaker channel, you can hear the piece without one part; by turning down the right speaker, you can hear the same piece minus a different part. By adjusting the volume, you can play along with the recording and blend in with the consort.

Tempos

Along with our performance tempo, we provide the piece in a slower, practice tempo. We can also provide a tempo you choose.

Formats

Available via mail on CD or for online download as MP3 files. There are no shipping and handling charges for audio downloads.

Pitches

We customize each Elizabethan Play Along to the pitch you choose, A=415 or 440.

Temperament

Slightly wide 4ths and 5ths close to perfect. The Elizabethan Play Along includes pitches to match to set this temperament.

Sheet Music

Use your own parts or request ours, created on free open-source software. Click here to see our sheet music for Ortiz Recercada Segunda. Click here for Gibbons Fantasia No. 3. Click here for Tomkins UtReMi.

Click here to see a list of our sheet music.

More Samples

Listen to Fantasia No. 1(quartet) by Orlando Gibbons from Elizabethan Play Along Gibbons, Tomkins, Byrd (INTERMEDIATE) for viol consort.

Listen to Fors seulement by Josquin from Elizabethan Play Along of the Fridolini Ms. (Renaissance) on Crocker viols of early design.

Click here to listen to Thomas Weelkes, Make Haste Ye Lovers from Elizabethan Play Along (EASY) Brade, Weelkes, Anon.

Click here to see a list of our Play Along recordings.

Recordings of Music for Violas da Gamba for Playing Along

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Elizabethan Play Alongs

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English Consort Music, Ortiz, St. Colombe, Hume lyra viol music, Dances, Italian Consort music...

"...excellent pieces for all levels, indeed." (from VdGSA review by Shanon Zusman)

"I want to let you know I am LOVING the play-alongs! I have a new lease of life as a remote viol player in the wop-wops! I've been playing just about every day, and will be ordering some new music soon...." Anne Kania (Montana)

All the instruments are recorded live, in real time; there is no MIDI involved. The only 'trick' we allow is recording one part at a time.

"…[the Elizabethan Play Along] recording of the Gibbons fantasia No. 1 for 6 voices is quite simply one of the most stunningly beautiful and fully realized recordings of consort music I have ever heard or imagined. Get it and listen to it whether you have any interested in learning to play it or not." Toby Weinberg, viol player, Syracuse .

"I strongly recommend players in the early stage of consort playing to try these CDs. They enable the player to experience the thrill of playing in a consort without the embarrassment of searching for the notes 'in public'. They are invaluable for players who...want to make the best use of the precious time when they are with other players."

"I particularly enjoyed playing along with the Gibbons 4 part fantasias. Great music and challenging to play. It is remarkable how well the different lines stand out when you play along."

Richard Milner, Bungendore, NSW, Australia (President of AVdGS)

A Partial List of Sheet Music for Early Music