VIOL ON VALENTINE’S DAY: Lisa Terry plays the bass viol “lyra-way” in a virtual program Valentine’s Day afternoon, continuing The Dryden Ensemble’s current series of concerts.

The Dryden Ensemble continues its virtual concerts when Lisa Terry presents a lecture-recital, “Leycester Lyra Viol Lessons” on Sunday, February 14 at 4 p.m.

Terry plays the bass viol “lyra-way,” with melodies and chordal accompaniment just like a lute with a bow, in these 17th century lessons collected by English gentleman Peter Leycester. The program includes typical baroque dance movements like allemandes, courantes, and sarabandes, a few settings of folk songs, and some engaging character pieces named after folks such as “Guilllim” and “Mr. and Mrs. Daniels.” 

Terry performs and teaches viola da gamba and violoncello in New York City, where she is a member of Parthenia Viol Consort. She is also a member of Princeton’s Dryden Ensemble. Terry is principal cellist and viol soloist with Tempesta di Mare, Philadelphia’s baroque orchestra, and she is past president of the Viola da Gamba Society of America. She was a founding member of ARTEK, and has performed with the New York Philharmonic, New York City Opera, Juilliard Opera Orchestra, Opera Lafayette, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Winter Park Bach Festival, Bethlehem Bach Festival, Concert Royal, New York Collegium, American Classical Orchestra, Four Nations Ensemble, and Chicago Opera Theatre.

The Dryden Ensemble concludes its virtual concerts on March 21 with Bach’s St. John Passion.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the February 14 event, visit drydenensemble.org. Tickets range from $10 – $50.