Modern compositions for ancient instruments?

[KevinP]

I mean like the viola da gamba, etc. I'm not aware of any but there must be someone carving out a niche, or others experimenting or commissioned here.

[bwv 1080]

The big one is Kagel's music for Renaissance Instruments which is available at the AG Project site (www.avantgardeproject.org)

[The new erato]

One of Hindemiths Kammermusiken is a concerto for viola d'amore.

[M forever]

There is an album of music by Frank Zappa played on "period" instruments, I don't recall right now who plays on it, and the pieces weren't originally composed for these instruments, but I hear it's quite a fun album and something which Z himself would probably have appreciated.

[Mahlered]

Pittsburgh composer Nancy Galbraith recently wrote a piece for amped baroque flute, harpsichord, and strings. I heard the premiere, and now the title is totally slipping my mind! I'll post when I remember the title, but I can say it was a really neat piece.

[westknife]

There are several notable compositions for harpsichord, iirc. The only one I really know is Ligeti's Continuum (it is excellent).

[Wendell_E]

A season or two ago, our local chamber music society prestented QNG - Quartet New Generation - a "modern recorder collective" from Germany.    They played a mixture of olde and new music, including some pieces they'd commisioned.  They've made some recordings.  I found their website, but if there's a list of works they perform, I couldn't find it:  http://www.quartetnewgeneration.de/en/#/168

They're also hot chicks, for those who care about such things.

[Lethevich]

Although it's not specifically written, Pärt's stabat mater has been recorded in a version for viols instread of string trio, by Fretwork.

[PaulSC]

Although it's not specifically written, Pärt's stabat mater has been recorded in a version for viols instread of string trio, by Fretwork.

Fretwork have also commissioned a number of works especially for the ensemble. A favorite of mine is by Simon Bainbridge, and when looking it up online I came across a page at the Fretwork website presumably listing them all: http://www.fretwork.co.uk/what/contemporary/index/itemId/4

[snyprrr]

Look up 'Tiensuu' on Amazon, and there's an album of Modern Works for the vioal da gamba.

Also, one of the Riti(?) by Scelsi seeks to replicate the sound of an ancient brass and percussion ensemble.