What's New on
Saraband Music's website

New Saraband editions coming. Available now are:

SM213 - Jean de Castro: Complete Two-Part Songs, Book 1. Edited and arranged for tenor and bass viols. A$40 ($4 inc GST). Spiral bound score with separate part. Text included. Click on the link and go to the bottom of the page for a sample page.

SM214 - Jean de Castro: Complete Two-Part Songs, Book 2. As above. Almost printed. Same price as above.

SM215 - Fabrizio Fontana: Ricercari (1677), Book 1. Arranged for TrTTB viols. Score & parts. 6 charming, slightly modal ricercari in a similar style to Frescobaldi. Scroll to the bottom of the link to find this edition.

SM216 - More Fontana - the other 6 ricercari. In prep now, and coming soon.

I've updated the instruments for sale page.

Several more audio files have been added to the Viol Consorts page and I'm now pretty much up to date. Not every entry has an audio file for one reason or another, but there are now a lot more available.

Saraband Music is now the sole Australian agent for Charlie Ogle viols. But, due to the waiting list, I can take orders but nothing will be received until late 2024.

Two lovely new baroque cello bows from Louis Begin have just arrived. 79g and 82g and based on a Dutch model owned by Phoebe Carrai.

Another new edition:

SM212 Consorts for Three: English pieces for TrTB viols by Morley, Holborne, Wilbye and others (including Tomkins, Anon, Youll and Drew). A$36 ($39.60 inc GST). Score and parts. Thirteen very nice pieces from both well-known and lesser known composers. The Drew pieces are fairly easy, the Holbornes not much harder and the others are of intermediate standard. Great for workshops, teaching and performance, or just enjoy. Click on the link above, scroll to the bottom of the page and see the sample.

More items from Corda Music have just arrived.

Instruments in stock page has been updated. I also know of two viols in NSW which are for private sale: a treble ($3000) and a bass ($4500). Please ask.

Where did time go? It was 2018 last time I looked, blissfully pre-covid and the world was a different place.

New edition available now:

SM211: Franz Tunder: Two Sacred Cantatas for bass voice, violins and b.c. Score & parts (enough for all performers). Salve coelestis Pater and O Jesu dulcissimi are two extremely nice works which should be heard more often. Figured bass and no realisation for the keyboard continuo. Click the link above to get to the sample page. A$25 ($27.50 inc GST)

I've added audio files to various pages (consorts, ensembles, vocal) for editions SM181-189. More to come as I get time.

Coming soon: SM212: English consort music a3. Morley, Holborne, Wilbye and Tomkins are joined by lesser known composers Youll and Drew.

Instruments in stock: 3 treble viols, 1 Lu Mi bass viol, 2 baroque violins, 2 baroque violas (one repaired and cheaper).

Another baroque viola is being set up and will be ready shortly for purchase. Price to come. Instrument is Chinese and comes with case. A basic or Louis bow can be added if you don't already have one.

A new edition - some more lovely 7 part music for viols - is now ready:

SM210 - Andrea Gabrieli: 2 Concerti a7 viols, TrTrTTTBB A$30 ($33 inc GST) is now ready. Two sacred works from Concerti, il primo libro (1587) are "Domine Deus, Meus" and "Iudica me". Score and parts. Texts included for voices and viols. Click the link above and scrol to the bottom of the page for a sample page. Email to order anything.

Price lists have been updated recently to reflect the sad closure of PRB Productions and the Corda Music price rise. Also some alterations to Fuzeau facsimiles, as some are now out of print. New Saraband editions added.

In stock now: a beautiful classical violin bow and a gorgeous classical cello bow by Louis Begin. $2500 each plus post. Also plenty of baroque bows from Louis including one baroque double bass bow. Ask now!

New items are up on the Instruments for sale page. There's a fabulous new baroque violin, a gorgeous descant lute and more. Bows can be included, but are priced separately, as many people already may own a baroque bow.

Some string prices have gone up. This is largely due to the A$ dropping in recent weeks, as well as increased freight prices.

SM209 is now here:

Orazio Vecchi - Two Dialoghi a7 viols. TrTrT+TrTBB. Vecchi's "Dolcissima mia vita" and "Stavasi Aminta". Two secular seven part madrigals. Text included as always. Score and parts. A$20 ($22 inc. GST). Available now. To see the sample page, click the link above and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Saraband Music will be selling Roosebeck lutes. The first one, a descant, 7 course Renaissance lute, has just arrived. It's extremly pretty and I'm sure it's going to play in really well. Comes in a padded bag. More will come in due course.

More lovely Louis Begin bows have also arrived. Please ask.

The pdf catalogues of early music from around the world have been updated. I can't check the prices of thousands of items, but I have removed PRB Productions which closed its doors on 30th June. Peter and Leslie have retired from publishing. And some other items have also been deleted.

Another new 7 part edition is now available:

SM208 - Andrea Gabrieli: Two Dialoghi a7 viols. TrTrT+TrTBB. Two gorgeous 7 part madrigals by a Venetian master. "Tirsi Morir Volea" and "Io mi sento Morire" Fabulous music. Score and parts, with all texts as usual. All viols, or combine with violins or voices. A$22 ($24.20 inc GST). To see the sample page, click the link above and scroll to the bottom of the page.

The second volume of 7 part viol consorts is now available.

SM206 - Consorts a7 Viols, Vol. 2 contains two substantial and wonderful pieces: Ambrosio Cotes' Mortuus est Philippus Rex, and Claude Le Jeune's setting of Susanne un jour. TrTrTrTTBB, but with an alto clef 3rd line for more flexibility. Three pieces have vocal texts, so can be done with voices and viols. Perfect for workshops, performance or those times when an extra person shows up for consort playing. A$27 ($29.70 inc GST). Score and parts.

Also available now:

SM207 - Robert Parsons: Two In Nomines a7 Viols. TrTrTBBBB. Score & parts.

These two In Nomines were probably written in the 1560s, and are wonderful early examples of English viol consort music. Great pieces that deserve to be heard. Score & parts. A$20 ($22 inc GST).

As I'm working on a number of seven part consort editions lately, I've put up a special 7 part consort page here so people can easily find what I've done.

June 2023 copies of the catalogue of Saraband Editions can be found here. There's a listing by ensemble, and one by composer.

A new edition is out:

SM205 - Consorts a7 Viols, Vol. 1 Music by Morley, Tunder, Lassus and Le Maistre. TrTrTrTTBB, but with an alto clef 3rd line for more flexibility. Three pieces have vocal texts, so can be done with voices and viols. Perfect for workshops, performance or those times when an extra person shows up for consort playing. A$33 ($36.30 inc GST). Score and parts.

Click on the link above then scroll to the bottom of the page to see the latest editions.

And Volume 2 of SM204 - Duets from The Delightful Pocket Companion, Vol. 2, arranged for 2 violins, plus SM204a, the same, arranged for 2 violas are now available. 2 scores. These use 1st and 3rd positions, and the viola duets do have a couple of pieces that use treble clef on one line. A$24 ($26.40 inc GST).

New edition available now:

SM203 - Duets from The Delightful Pocket Companion, Vol. 1, arranged for 2 violins.

Also SM203a, the same, arranged for 2 violas.

These two volumes will be really useful for string teachers looking for some extra sight-reading or relatively easy pieces for performance. All in first position. Sample page available. Click the link above and go to the bottom of the page. Two scores. $24 ($26.40 inc GST).

Toro have had a price rise for 2023.

Available now: SM202 - Sonata a Tre by Johann Josef Fux. For 2 violins, bass instrument and continuo (figured bass only, no realisation). Score and parts. Only $17 ($18.70 inc. GST).

I've finally updated the Saraband Editions listings Here you'll find a listing by ensemble and another by composer, dated November 2022.

A new free download is here. It's a 6 part Pavan and Galliard pair by Valentin Haussmann, first published in 1604, and it's not particularly difficult. Score and parts.

SM200 is now available. Consorts from the Depths: Works for Six Bass Viols. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find this.

Four fabulous six-part viol consorts (or play on other instruments) by Ferrabosco, Verdelot, Weelkes and Marenzio, transposed to fit all bass viols. The Ferrabosco is in all bass clefs. The other 3 pieces have the top line in alto clef and it could be played on tenor viol. A$25 ($27.50 inc GST) Score and parts.

SM201 is also now available! Two Six-Part Madrigals, arranged for TTBBBB/BBBBBB viols. Leggiadre Ninfe by Philippe de Monte and L'Alto Signor by Cipriano da Rore have been transposed to suit low instruments. The top two lines are in alto clef. A$24 ($26.40 inc GST) Score and parts.

Leatherwood rosin has had a price rise as of this month. Cakes of the baroque rosin are in stock but will now cost $110 per piece (includes GST).

More cheap baroque violin bows are now in stock.

The pdf catalogues of early music from many publishers have been reloaded with changes and can be found here.

SM197 Antonio Caldara: La Speranza, arranged for TrTrTB/TrTTB viols is now available. This four part madrigal is interesting because it's a throwback to the Renaissance madrigal, but also quite baroque in its composition. Caldara was much better known for his operas and sacred music. This little madrigal is a rarity. Score and parts. A$18 ($19.80 inc GST). Available now. Click on the title and scroll to the bottom of the page for the entry with the sample page.

SM198 Georg Philipp Telemann: 2 Sonatas Polonoise, arranged for string trio - 2 violins and cello, is now available. Score and parts. A$24 ($26.40 inc GST). These are two fun trios, not too difficult for good players, and very useful for performance, wedding music or study. They're light-hearted pieces so great for a general audience. Click on the link and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the description and sample page.

SM199 Valentin Haussmann: 2 Four-part Fugues, for TrTBB viols is now available. Score and parts. These are rather nice fugues, and they're not too hard. They suit viols nicely. A$18 ($19.80 inc GST)

Here's an edition that will please intermediate consorts and teachers, especially at workshops. I've just arranged 16 of the 25 pieces from Thomas Morley's First Book of Consort Lessons for 3 viols - TrTB. The book is roughly graded, and some pieces have one part that is easier than others. Score and parts. A$24 ($26.40 inc GST). Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to find details and sample page.

And another edition which will please lovers of Scots folk music and duets!

SM196 - James Oswald: Curious collection of Scots Tunes - a selection, arranged for treble viol/violin & bass viol/cello. This edition contains 20 pieces from Oswald's two books which date from the 1740s, when collecting these tunes was all the rage. Two scores. A$24 ($26.40 inc GST). Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to find details and sample page.

More Louis bows have just arrived. They're all wonderful!