Richard Boothby, the lyra viol player on this recording, co-founded The Purcell Quartet in 1984 and Fretwork in 1985, and has commissioned new music for viol consort from composers like Elvis Costello and George Benjamin.
Instruments
The viol used for this recording was made by Richard Meares, a significant London viol-maker of the Charles II period, and is considered the greatest example of an English bass viol from that era.
Compositional Technique
Music for the lyra viol is written in tablature, which tells the player where to place their fingers on the frets rather than which specific notes to play, making the actual pitch of the strings irrelevant for solo playing.
Composer Biography
William Lawes, the composer, was described as an 'improver and approver of the Lyra-viol' and died at the age of 43, rushing into battle at the siege of Chester in 1645.
Composer's Artistic Vision
William Lawes's lyra viol music, mostly composed in the early 1630s, shows a wide variety of moods and styles, with major key pieces often having a folksy feel and minor key pieces inspiring tragic heights.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in 2015 at the Royal College of Music, London, with sessions overseen by Adrian Hunter and produced by Bill Hunt.
Instruments
The lyra viol, an instrument and playing style originating around 1600 in England, was initially equipped with wire sympathetic strings that vibrated along with the gut strings.
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