The Viola da Gamba Society of Japan - Who Are We ?

The Viola da Gamba Society of Japan (the Society) was founded in 1973 for the purposes of spreading the viola da gamba (viol) and its music, promoting and enhancing playing, research, exchanging information, and fostering friendship among its members. The Viola da Gamba Society of Japan is the third oldest Viola da Gamba Society in the world after the UK and the USA.
The Society has around 250 registered members, including amateur and professional players, instrument makers, composers, and musicologists.



<General Information>

[Main Activities]
  • The publication of a quarterly magazine.
  • The organisation and support of viol-related events.
[Events organized by the Society]
  • An annual viol summer course.
  • An annual autumn consort weekend.
  • Other meetings as arranged.
  • From time to time the Society also organises and supports open-to-the-public lessons, lectures and concerts related to the viol, such as those listed below:
  • 1990: M. Hirao lecture on “Trattado de Glosas by D. Ortiz”;
    1991: W. Kuijken solo recital;
    1991: A. Crum lesson (open to the public);
    1992: J. Savall lesson (open to the public);
    1997: Chelys Consort of Viols lecture concert 'History of the In Nomine' ;
    2001: P. Pandolfo lesson (open to the public).
[Services to Members]
  • A quarterly magazine - the only publication dedicated to viols in Japan.
  • A membership list - useful when looking for consort members to play with.
  • A scholarly journal (issued on an irregular basis).
  • A reduction to Society-organized events, such as the viol summer course.
  • Members’ discounts available at the following co-operating stores:
    • Academia Music Ltd.
    • Casa de la Guitarra S. A.
    • Shimokura Musical Instruments Co., Ltd.
  • A members’ mailing list.
[Membership Type]

Individual Membership: For individuals.
Student Membership:For students.
Family Membership: Available to those who live at the same address. Only one copy of each bulletin is provided to the registered address. Other services are provided as for individual members.
Corporate Members: For corporations and societies.

[Annual Fees]
  • Individual Membership: 4,000 JPY
  • Student Membership: 2,000 JPY
  • Family Membership: 4,500 JPY
  • Corporate Membership: 8,000 JPY
[How to contact us]

International-committee*vdgsj.org
<Please change * to @ when you use.>

  • Handbook for the Viola da Gamba (VdGSJ Journal Committee)

  • Viols in Japan in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (Kambe, Yukimi)

  • On-line Services



  • <General Information>

    [Main Activities]
    • The publication of a quarterly magazine.
    • The organisation and support of viol-related events.
    [Events organized by the Society]
    • An annual viol summer course.
    • An annual autumn consort weekend.
    • Other meetings as arranged.
    • From time to time the Society also organises and supports open-to-the-public lessons, lectures and concerts related to the viol, such as those listed below:
    • 1990: M. Hirao lecture on “Trattado de Glosas by D. Ortiz”;
      1991: W. Kuijken solo recital;
      1991: A. Crum lesson (open to the public);
      1992: J. Savall lesson (open to the public);
      1997: Chelys Consort of Viols lecture concert 'History of the In Nomine' ;
      2001: P. Pandolfo lesson (open to the public).
    [Services to Members]
    • A quarterly magazine - the only publication dedicated to viols in Japan.
    • A membership list - useful when looking for consort members to play with.
    • A scholarly journal (issued on an irregular basis).
    • A reduction to Society-organized events, such as the viol summer course.
    • Members’ discounts available at the following co-operating stores:
      • Academia Music Ltd.
      • Casa de la Guitarra S. A.
      • Shimokura Musical Instruments Co., Ltd.
    • A members’ mailing list.
    [Membership Type]

    Individual Membership: For individuals.
    Student Membership:For students.
    Family Membership: Available to those who live at the same address. Only one copy of each bulletin is provided to the registered address. Other services are provided as for individual members.
    Corporate Members: For corporations and societies.

    [Annual Fees]
    • Individual Membership: 4,000 JPY
    • Student Membership: 2,000 JPY
    • Family Membership: 4,500 JPY
    • Corporate Membership: 8,000 JPY
    [How to contact us]

    International-committee*vdgsj.org
    <Please change * to @ when you use.>

    Events Schedule 2021

    Viola da Gamba Society The 46th Summer Course,

    Summer Course will be held July or August in Kakeyu onsen, Nagano.
    Join our summer course to have amazing four days of music-making!

    Date:
    July or August, 2021
     
    Location:
    Kakeyu onsen, Ueda-shi, Nagano, Japan.
    http://go.ueda-cb.gr.jp/spot/kakeyu-onsen
    1.5hours from Tokyo by JR Express Line Nagano-Shinkansen and take bus / taxt for 70 minutes.
     
    Tutors:
    Mr. Atsushi Sakai (viola da gamba),
    Ms. Marion Martineau (viola da gamba),
     
    Contact:

    gamba-event*vdgsj.org (replace the * with @)

    Events Schedule 2020

    Viola da Gamba Society The 46th Summer Course,

    Summer course has been CANCELLED in light of recent developments with the coronavirus.

    Past Events


    <Viols in Japan in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries>
    Kambe, Yukimi

        Japan shared the European vogue of viols through Portugal in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. An examination of bowed string instruments’ terms in archival documents, called Kirishitan monjo, demonstrates that Jesuit missionaries, then active in Japan, employed viols in both religious and secular ceremonies. Christians played a set of viols for polyphonic music. Japanese envoys* who visited the Iberian Peninsula and Italy from 1584 to 1586 brought a small viola da braccio to Japan. The following terms are found: viola(s) de arco, violoni, viola da gamba, viola, rabequinha and viola semplice. (from RILM abstract)

    *  "Tenshô ken'ô shisetsu" (Japanese envoys in Europe 1582-90)
    The original article: Journal of the Viola da Gamba Society of America Volume vol. 37, 2000, pp. 31-67.


    <On-line Services>

    [Free on-line printed music]