On Saturday evening, Goshen College music professors, students and guest artists came together to showcase baroque music and early instruments in “Reflection and Restoration: A Goshen College Musical Offering.” The recital featured guest artists Kevin Vaughn on the harpsichord and pipe organ and Philip Serna playing viola da gamba, or viol, a bowed string instrument used commonly throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. 

Viola professor Rosalyn Troiano hosted the event to raise funds for the restoration of four viols owned by the college, including a bass viol in good enough condition to be played in the recital.

The program featured works from a variety of baroque composers, including one piece for accompanied viol, one for solo viol and two energetic and conversational works for two violins, viola da gamba and harpsichord. Solomia Soroka, professor of music, and Julia Koch. senior music major, joined Troiano on violin in both the first and second halves of the recital.

Serna also provided historical background on the viola de gamba and contextual information for several pieces in the first half of the recital, giving the viol a spotlight rarely available to a GC audience. 

Koch said of her experience working with early music professionals, “They were very knowledgeable about historical accuracy,” and, “attuned to small details,” helping the ensemble to achieve the distinctive baroque style.

The second half of the recital featured the recently-tuned pipe organ, opening with an organ prelude by Johann Sebastian Bach which transitioned into the congregational hymn “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth,” directed by professor of music Scott Hochstetler. 

This led into another piece by Bach: a cantata for organ and string ensemble, featuring Hochstetler, with music students Emmalynn Brown and Kate Roth, both seniors majoring in music education; Anton Alstrom-Brookhyser, a junior music education major; and William McFadden, a junior music major, singing a chorale to close the piece and the concert.

After the performance, Serna gave demonstrations on the college’s viol collection in the lobby and showcased several articles, programs and other records of the early music program. 

At a talk before the concert, current and retired faculty, including Michael Sherer, recounted the history of the four viols to be restored. They were initially acquired in 1983 following the establishment of programs for baroque and early music studies at the college. Records show that they were likely used in performance beginning in 1984. 

They were put in storage and eventually rediscovered by Troiano in 2004, who has been working to have the viols restored and serviced ever since.