Fans of the viola da gamba: (l to r) Sarah Poon, Cyrena Huang, Koren Wake, Genevieve MacKay and Anne Duranceau. Four musicians from Vancouver Viols along with Coast violist Sarah Poon performed at St. Bart’s church in Gibsons on March 2. Earlier that day they had played for pupils at Gibsons and Langdale Elementary Schools in a concert that included many sixteenth century pieces. The viola was the favoured instrument of both the French and English royal courts, but fell out of favour for centuries. While there are modern composers making music for the instrument, explained violist Koren Wake, the sixteenth century generated the most melodious. Highlights of the concert included the Christopher Tye piece In Nomine a 5 “Crye” that mimics the sounds of market vendors crying their wares and the William Byrd piece Browning a 5 in which two bass violas present a pleasant pastoral tune.
