Concert Programmes:
Viola da gamba and harpsichord:
Bach & Abel Inspired
A programme of late German Baroque music, inspired by the collaboration between Johann Christian Bach Carl Friedrich Abel in 18th century London.
Including pieces by Buxtehude, Kuhnel, Händel, J.S. and C.P.E. Bach, Telemann and Abel.
The Sonatas for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord by J.S.Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach's masterpieces for viola da gamba and obligato harpsichord -
3 musical parts played by 2 instruments and representing an entire chamber ensemble.
Viola da gamba, harpsichord and theorbo (optional):
Musick with Temperament
A look at different historical temperaments (tunings) and how they affect the music by Frescobaldi, Froberger, Marais, Bach and others.
A Parabola Shaped Concert
A musical journey of styles and sounds that begin in the renaissance, touch the 21st century and go back.
With music by Ortiz, Hume, Rognino, Forqueray and others.
Viola da gamba, harpsichord, continuo viola da gamba (optional) and theorbo:
Marais Plus
A purely French programme dedicated to Music from the court of Louis XIV and Versailles Gardens by Marin Marais, the most fruitful composer for the viol, and his contemporaries: Forqueray, De Machy and Sainte Colombe.
2 viols:
Duetto
Tal Arbel and Ibi Aziz:
14 strings and a veriaty of sounds by Hume, Schenck, Couperin, Schaffrath and Mozart.
Mixed ensembles:
Dolce Amor
Soprano/tenor singer, violin/recorder, viola da gamba and harpsichord
Italian songs and diminutions by Frescobaldi, Rognono, Dala Casa, Caccini, Landi, Merula, Di Selma and Montecerdi.
In Times of Love and War
Tal Arbel - viola d'arco (vielle), with additional vielle, singers, Renaissance lute and recorders.
A unique programmes of Medieval Dances, Love ballads, war songs and lamentations from France and Spain around 1300-1500.
Music by Guileaume de Machaut, Luis da Milan, Juan del Encina, Anonymous, and from Codex Faenza and Buxheimer Orgelbuch.
Solo viol:
GAMBiT
An innovative solo recital featuring both historical and newly composed repertoire
and presenting the full potential and character of the viola da gamba with a creative approach. Based on the CD GAMBiT - click here for audio samples.
Meet the Viol
A solo recital that takes the listeners into the world of the viola da gamba
through sounds and explanations about the instruments and its musical styles.
Can be adapted to different events and age groups.
In Preparation:
The Fellowship of the String
An English banquet of music full of strings for viols, lutes and harpsichord, with an optional singer. Music by Hume, Byrd, Dowland and others.
Common Ground:
Base Dances and grounds, exciting diminutions and improvisation with a taste of ethnic and world music.
Projects:
Workshop:
Meet the Viol - for composers:
An ongoing initiative to encourage composers to write music for the viola da gamba.
Including informative meetings and open discussions.
This project is currently taking place at theRoyal College of Music, London, UK.
Research and presentations:
The Story Of The Viola Da Gamba:
A lecture / presentation of the early history of the viola da gamba from the late middle ages to the late Baroque, and how it developped to become the instrument that we know today. Including live examples played on the vielle - an instrument that preceded the viol, and a Baroque viola da gamba.
Concerts & Recordings Vis-À-Vis:
This thesis, originally written for the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, compares and contrasts performing and listening experiences through early music practice. It was highly praised by its reviewers and is now presented at the library of the SCB. The ideas and the conclusions of this project can be delivered as a presentation.
Improvisation on viola da gamba:
I am currently conducting a doctoral research at the Royal College of Music in London, which is all about enhancing creativity in performance by making the practice of improvisation more efficient and enjoyable. This research focuses both on historical and contemporary styles, and combines cognitive methods in order to improve and to understand the process of improvisation.
Articles:
Keeping It Alive: Some Thoughts on the Viola da Gamba as a Musical Ambassador
Published in The Viol, the magazine of The Viola da Gamba Society Uk, No. 10, 2008
Style & Spirit - The Importance of Gestures and Ornaments in the Music of Marin Marais
Proceedings of a presentation by Tal Arbel, published in The Viol, the magazine of The Viola da Gamba Society Uk, No. 11, 2008