Christopher SIMPSON (c.1605-1669)
Ayres and
Graces
Chelys Consort of Viols (Ibrahim Aziz, Alison Kinder, Amily Ashton,
Jennifer Bullock (viols))
Tan Tidhar (chamber organ,
harpsichord)
James Akers (theorbo, baroque guitar)
rec. 2013, Girton College Chapel, Cambridge, England
BIS BIS-2153 SACD [59:38]
Brian Wilson reviewed this recording as a download, referencing some
earlier recordings of music by Christopher Simpson and providing some
interesting further places to explore. I have to admit knowing nothing about
Simpson before now, though there does seem to be something of a renaissance
in taste for the viol and viol consorts in the variety of recordings
appearing from numerous quarters.
Christopher Simpson's life has left little in the way of written records,
so we have few details other than that he was a quarter-master for the Earl
of Newcastle, who was on the Royalist side during the English Civil War. His
theoretical treatise 'A Compendium of Practical Musick in 5 parts, teaching
by a New, and easie Method' has survived and was first published in 1665.
Purcell considered it 'the most ingenius book I e'er met with upon this
subject'. Alex Parker has transcribed the works heard here from a variety of
sources, and it his booklet notes that guide us through the background to
the music. Ibrahim Aziz provides notes on the recording, including the
choices for continuo and aspects of ornamentation.
Using copies from English instruments from the first half of the
17th century with gut strings, this has to be considered as a
close approximation, and possibly a highly accurate reflection of the kind
of sound Simpson and his audiences would have enjoyed. Either way, the sound
is rich and colourful, with superbly intonated harmonies, nicely
natural-sounding phrasing and plenty of contrast between the slower music
and those propelled by gentle dance rhythms. Instrumental colour is also
treated to subtle contrast, with the baroque guitar adding rhythmic
liveliness to something like the Divisions in A minor on track 9.
The chamber organ gives depth to the harmonic fundamentals in the slower
music, over which the viols can play expressively and with their more
upper-harmonic rich spectrum.
Simpson is not as adventurous a composer as his contemporary William
Lawes, but this release would make a fine companion to the excellent
recording made for Linn records by ensemble Phantasm (see review). Recorded in a suitably airy but not too large
acoustic, there's a very slight 'rumble' you might notice just before the
music starts, but beyond that the quality is excellent. This debut recording
from the Chelys Consort of Viols is easy to love and is warmly
recommended.
Dominy Clements
Previous review:
Brian Wilson
Contents
20 Ayres for Two Trebles and Two
Basses: Nos 14-16 in D minor
Pavin [5:03]
Galliard [1:43]
Aire [1:12]
20 Ayres: Nos 4-7 in B flat major
Pavin [3:55]
Galliard [1:56]
Aire [1:43]
Sarabande [0:58]
Two Divisions
Divisions in F major for two bass viols [3:01]
Divisions in A minor for treble and bass viol [1:30]
20 Ayres: Nos 1-3 in C major
Pavin [4:29]
Aire [2:09]
Sarabande [1:49]
20 Ayres: Nos 17-20 in G minor
Pavin [5:06]
Galliard [1:57]
[Aire] [2:03]
[Sarabande] [1:38]
Two Divisions
Divisions in C major for two bass viols [2:15]
Divisions in A minor for treble and bass viol [2:12]
20 Ayres: Nos 8-13 in D major
Pavin [4:41]
Aire [1:52]
Corant [1:35]
Aire [1:44]
Aire [1:20]
[Sarabande] [1:58]
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