“Musick’s Recreation:” At-Home Viol-Playing in 17th and 18th Century New England

Presented by East Central Community College Matinee Series

Join us in an exploration of at-home music making on the viol in 17th and early 18th century
America. We will focus on a few documented viol owners in colonial Massachusetts as well as
viol players who were left out of historical records, connecting what we can infer about their
varied musical experiences to repertoire for solo viol and for voice with bass viol
accompaniment. Drawing from sheet music sold commercially by England’s favorite publisher,
John Playford, this program illustrates connections between facets of English and early
American musical culture. Discover the lively sounds of early American homes featuring
everything from bawdy drinking songs to music for the English court.