Christopher Simpson - Ayres & Graces
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Label: BIS
Cat No: BIS2153
Format: Hybrid SACD
Number of Discs: 1
Genre: Chamber
Release Date: 29th June 2015
Contents
Works
Ayres (20) for two trebles and two bassesDivisions in A minor for treble and bass viol (2)
Divisions in C major for two bass viols
Divisions in F major for two bass viols
Artists
Dan Tidhar (chamber organ, harpsichord)James Akers (theorbo, baroque guitar)
Chelys Consort of Viols
Works
Ayres (20) for two trebles and two bassesDivisions in A minor for treble and bass viol (2)
Divisions in C major for two bass viols
Divisions in F major for two bass viols
Artists
Dan Tidhar (chamber organ, harpsichord)James Akers (theorbo, baroque guitar)
Chelys Consort of Viols
About
Not much is known about Christopher Simpson’s life, except that he was a seminal writer for the viol. 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 whom have enlisted the aid of Dan Tidhar and James Akers in the twenty airs, pavanes, galliards and other dances that fall comfortably into five suites.
The disc also features 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.
Sound/Video
Paused
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1Ayre no.14 - Pavin in D minor
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2Ayre no.15 - Galliard in D minor
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3Ayre no.16 - Aire in D minor
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4Ayre no.4 - Pavin in B flat major
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5Ayre no.5 - Galliard in B flat major
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6Ayre no.6 - Aire in B flat major
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7Ayre no.7 - Sarabande in B flat major
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8The Division Vio - Divisions for 2 Bass Viols in F major
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9The Division Viol - Divisions for Treble and Bass Viols in A minor
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10Ayre no.1 - Pavin in C major
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11Ayre no.2 - Aire in C major
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12Ayre no.3 - Sarabande in C major
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13Ayre no.17 - Pavin in G minor
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14Ayre no.18 - Galliard in G minor
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15Ayre no.19 - Aire in G minor
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16Ayre no.20 - Sarabande in G minor
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17The Division Viol - Divisions for 2 Bass Viols in C major
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18The Division Viol - Divisions for Treble and Bass Viols in A minor
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19Ayre no.8 - Pavin in D major
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20Ayre no.9 - Aire in D major
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21Ayre no.10 - Corant in D major
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22Ayre no.11 - Aire in D major
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23Ayre no.12 - Aire in D major
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24Ayre no.13 - Sarabande in D major
Europadisc Review
This new disc from the Chelys Consort of Viols – their name taken from one of Simpson's publications – is the first complete recording of his twenty Aires for two treble and two bass viols, in a new edition by Alex Parker from a set of part-books in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Though not formally divided into suites (or 'setts'), this collection of pavins, galliards, sarabandes and other aires is clearly organised by key into groups of three to six movements. The opening pavins consist of three strains (or sections), each of which is repeated, while the other movements are in two strains, again each repeated. On the repeats, the musicians of Chelys apply the ornaments ('graces') expected by Simpson, and listening to these subtly deployed variations is a major part of the enjoyment in this music. The slow pavins are nicely contrasted with faster galliards and sarabandes, and thematic links between the pieces in each group provide a unifying factor.
Chelys's viol players (Ibrahim Aziz, Alison Kinder, Emily Ashton and Jennifer Bullock) coax a gorgeously warm sound from their gut strings, the various strands clear but superbly blended too. They're joined by continuo players Dan Tidhar (keyboards) and James Akers (theorbo and baroque guitar). Each suite is further unified by its own continuo instrument, with exception of the final, six-movement D major group, where different combinations point up the contrasts between pieces.
The music itself is wide-ranging in mood, from the serious-toned D minor opening group and the melancholy G minor (tracks 13 to 16) to the lighter B flat group (4 to 7) and the splendidly resonant C major group (10 to 12), with its delightfully throw-away ending.
An added bonus is the inclusion of four of Simpson's sets of divisions for two viols and continuo. These are marvellous lessons in tasteful embellishment, and the first set of A minor divisions (track 9) is a real toe-tapper with baroque guitar bringing out the cross-beats.
The recording, made in Girton College Chapel, Cambridge, fits the music hand-in-glove, and as a marriage between thoughtful musicology, enterprising repertoire and natural musicianship this disc could hardly be bettered. Warmly recommended!
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