Christopher Simpson was a seminal writer for the viol, publishing treatises and manuals on viol playing and composition, including 'The Division Viol'.
Composer Biography
Christopher Simpson, the composer, was a quartermaster for the Earl of Newcastle, who sided with King Charles I during the English Civil War.
Performer Biography
The Chelys Consort of Viols takes its name from the Latin word 'Chelys', which Christopher Simpson adopted for the viol in his treatise 'The Division Viol'.
Compositional Technique
The Ayres are arranged into groups of dances like Pavins, Galliards, and Sarabandes, suggesting they are dance suites in all but name.
Composition History
The 20 Ayres for Two Trebles and Two Basses by Christopher Simpson are presented in their world première recording on this album.
Interpretation
The performers used Christopher Simpson's own manual, 'The Division Viol', for the ornaments, which he called 'Graces', attributing them to fellow musician Charles Coleman.
Instruments
The viols used in this recording are copies of 17th-century English instruments, strung entirely with plain gut, as wound strings were invented later.
You might also enjoy...
Bach: Three Sonatas for Cello and Piano (The Mercury Masters, Vol. 9)
Autumn Scenes for Piano and Strings
Brümmer: Sonic Patterns
An Evening at the Theatre
A Consort's Monument
Le son de l'encre
Newman: Ghosts
The Duke Ellington Carnegie Hall Concerts, January 1946
