Although it may be next to impossible to discern the programmatic aspects of the works presented here–with titles such as “The Winter”, “The Spring”, “January”, “April”, etc.–it’s not at all difficult to appreciate the stylish and highly refined instrumental writing that produced these excellent pieces for viols, plucked strings, and keyboard. Christopher Simpson was one of England’s finest composers of viol music in the 17th century, and his treatise on viol technique, which included discussion of the prized art of improvisation, was an important contribution to the compendium of essential instructional works for the instrument. As shown in this collection, the viol was highly versatile and enormously expressive, which often (and rightfully) was compared to the human voice for its range of inflection, dynamic modulation, and timbral variety. And the instrument’s ability to blend so agreeably with others in its “family” creates a sound that falls sweetly on the ear.
Simpson exploited the viol’s numerous bowing techniques and didn’t hesitate to ask his performers to take off in increasingly faster or more complex “divisions” on a theme, spicing them with ornamentations and changing rhythms. The best examples of these techniques are found here in The Spring and in the month of “June”, near the end of the program. Needless to say, if you enjoy viol consort music, you’ll be happy and impressed with the music and the ensemble musicianship on this first-rate release. The sound is very complementary–richly resonant and full-bodied.
