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Christopher Simpson – Ayres & Graces

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Label
Catalogue numberBIS-2153 SACD
Release date2013-05-10
Discs1
Orig. sample rate96000Hz
Total time59:38

Not much is known about Christopher Simpson’s life, except that he was a seminal writer for the viol. Even today modern violists use his manual The Division Viol as a guide to the practice of ‘divisions’, the improvised embellishments that were so fashionable during his time. Much of his music nevertheless goes unperformed, and the present collection of Ayres here receives its first recording, by Chelys, a British quartet of young violists. Describing the collection as being ‘for two trebles and two basses’, the manuscript sources also include parts for continuo. Chelys have therefore enlisted the aid of Dan Tidhar and James Akers in the twenty airs, pavanes, galliards and other dances that fall comfortably into five suites. On the disc are also some examples of Simpson’s Divisions, for two treble viols and for treble and bass viol respectively. As a result, the programme offers fascinating insights into Simpson’s music and the viol during the mid-17th century. By turns melancholy, lively and graceful, these Ayres are glowing examples from the tail-end of the great English tradition of music for viol consort – a tradition to which, some ten years after Simpson’s death, Purcell with his celebrated Fantazias would add the final chapter.
 
  • STUDIO QUALITY
    File formats included in STUDIO QUALITY
    • FLAC 24-bit Stereo
    • FLAC 24-bit Surround 5.0
    • FLAC 16-bit Stereo
    • MP3 Stereo
  • CD QUALITY | MP3
    File formats included in CD QUALITY | MP3
    • FLAC 16-bit Stereo
    • MP3 Stereo
$ 13.91
 
Extra material for download
 
 
  Composer: Simpson, Christopher
  20 Ayres for Two Trebles and Two Basses: Nos 14–16 in D minor 07:58
01 Pavin 05:03 $ 1.21 USD
02 Galliard 01:43 $ 0.41 USD
03 Aire 01:12 $ 0.29 USD
 
  20 Ayres for Two Trebles and Two Basses: Nos 4–7 in B flat major 08:32
04 Pavin 03:55 $ 0.94 USD
05 Galliard 01:56 $ 0.46 USD
06 Aire 01:43 $ 0.41 USD
07 Sarabande 00:58 $ 0.23 USD
 
  Two Divisions 08:58
08 Divisions in F major for two bass viols 03:01 $ 0.72 USD
09 Divisions in A minor for treble and bass viol 01:30 $ 0.36 USD
 
  20 Ayres: Nos 1–3 in C major 08:35
10 Pavin 04:29 $ 1.08 USD
11 Aire 02:13 $ 0.53 USD
12 Sarabande 01:53 $ 0.45 USD
 
  20 Ayres: Nos 17–20 in G minor 10:44
13 Pavin 05:06 $ 1.22 USD
14 Galliard 01:57 $ 0.47 USD
15 [Aire] 02:03 $ 0.49 USD
16 [Sarabande] 01:38 $ 0.39 USD
 
  Two Divisions 08:58
17 Divisions in C major for two bass viols 02:15 $ 0.54 USD
18 Divisions in A minor for treble and bass viol 02:12 $ 0.53 USD
 
  20 Ayres: Nos 8–13 in D major 13:10
19 Pavin 04:41 $ 1.12 USD
20 Aire 01:52 $ 0.45 USD
21 Corant 01:35 $ 0.38 USD
22 Aire 01:44 $ 0.42 USD
23 Aire 01:20 $ 0.32 USD
24 [Sarabande] 01:58 $ 0.47 USD
 
  Album total 59:38
ComposerSimpson, Christopher
EnsembleChelys

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