Short bio Christopher Simpson
Full biography Christopher Simpson
Christopher Simpson (c. 1602/1606-1669) was an English composer, musician, and theorist. He was primarily associated with music for the viola da gamba ), an instrument that he played and wrote extensively for. Simpson's early life and musical training are not well-documented, but he likely received training as a viol player in London.
Simpson is known for his contributions to the development of English consort music. He wrote extensively for the viol consort, publishing numerous collections of music for various combinations of viols. Simpson's music is characterized by its lyricism and expressive use of harmony. He also emphasized the importance of the bass line in his music, writing that "the bass is the ground of all the rest, without which the other parts cannot stand."
In addition to his compositions, Simpson was also a noted theorist and music educator. He wrote several treatises on music theory and performance practice, including "The Division-violist" (1659), which is considered a seminal work on viol technique and ornamentation. Simpson's treatises are among the most important sources of information on seventeenth-century music and performance practice.
Today, Simpson is regarded as one of the most important composers for the viola da gamba and a key figure in the development of early English consort music. His music is still performed today and has been recorded by many notable interpreters of early music.
Compositions featuring Christopher Simpson
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Seasons, 4 fantaisie-suites for treble viol, 2 bass viols & continuo | 48:12 min | Chamber Music | 1660 |
| 2 | Prélude for solo bass viol (from the Division-Violist, 1659) | 4:28 min | Chamber Music | 1659 |
| 3 | Divisions for solo bass viol & organ in E minor "Minuritiones septimae" (from the Division-Violist, 1659) | 6:39 min | Chamber Music | 1659 |
| 4 | Divisions for 2 bass viols, theorbo & harpsichord in G major | 6:05 min | Chamber Music | 16?? |
| 5 | Divisions for 3 bass viols in A minor | 2:23 min | Chamber Music | 16?? |
| 6 | Ground in E minor | 6:32 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 7 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 6 in A minor, "June" | 4:17 min | - | |
| 8 | Ground in D major | 4:42 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 9 | Ground in B flat major | 2:52 min | - | |
| 10 | Ground in A minor | 2:39 min | - | |
| 11 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 12 in D major, "December" | 3:41 min | - | |
| 12 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 11 in F major, "November" | 3:36 min | - | |
| 13 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 10 in F major, "October" | 3:39 min | - | |
| 14 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 9 in G minor, "September" | 3:49 min | - | |
| 15 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 8 in G minor, "August" | 4:05 min | - | |
| 16 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 7 in D minor, "July" | 3:39 min | - | |
| 17 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 4 in A minor, "April" | 3:58 min | - | |
| 18 | Ground in G major | 2:31 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 19 | Prelude for viola da gamba in B flat major (from the Division Viol) | 1:41 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 20 | Prelude for viola da gamba No. 2 in D minor (from The Division-Viol, 1665 edition) | 0:18 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 21 | Prelude for viola da gamba No. 3 in F major (from The Division-Viol, 1665 edition) | 0:35 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 22 | Prelude for viola da gamba No. 4 in F major (from The Division-Viol, 1665 edition) | 0:16 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 23 | Prelude for viola da gamba No. 5 in A minor (from The Division-Viol, 1665 edition) | 0:53 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 24 | Prelude for violia da gamba No. 7 in G minor (from The Division-Viol, 1665 edition) | 1:01 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 25 | Prelude in D major (from the Division Viol) | 1:26 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 26 | Prelude in E minor (from the Division Viol) | 2:02 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 27 | Prélude | 1:57 min | - | |
| 28 | Suite for chamber ensemble in G minor/major ("The Little Consort") | 12:51 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 29 | Suite in D major | 8:23 min | - | |
| 30 | Divisions on a Ground for 2 bass viols in C major | 3:25 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 31 | Ayres (20) for 2 treble viols & 2 bass viols | 50:15 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 32 | Division (II) for viola da gamba in D major (Division-Viol) | 5:01 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 33 | Division for 2 viols in A minor (VdGS No. 25) | 3:52 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 34 | Division on a Ground in E minor, for viola da gamba, organ & theorbo (from the Division Violist, 1659) | 5:01 min | - | |
| 35 | Division to a Ground for 2 bass viols & theorbo | 4:36 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 36 | Divisions | 7:32 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 37 | Divisions (I) for viola da gamba in D major (from the Division Viol) | 5:14 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 38 | Divisions for 2 bass viols in F | 4:31 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 39 | Divisions for viola da gamba & continuo in D | 5:09 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 40 | Divisions for viola da gamba in B flat major (from the Division Viol) | 2:55 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 41 | Divisions for viola da gamba in D minor II (from the Division Viol) | 8:40 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 42 | Divisions for viola da gamba in G major (from the Division Viol) | 2:39 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 43 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 5 in A minor , "May" | 4:20 min | - | |
| 44 | Divisions on a Ground in D minor (from The Division-Viol) | 3:43 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 45 | Divisions on a Ground, for 2 violas da gamba | 6:08 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 46 | Divisions on a Ground, for 2 violas da gamba in F major | 4:50 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 47 | Divisions on a Ground, for 2 violas da gamba in G major | 5:53 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 48 | Divisions on John Come Kiss Me Now | 4:43 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 49 | Fantasia Suite, for treble instrument, 2 bass viols & continuo ("Spring") | 16:53 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 50 | Fantasia Suite, for treble instrument, 2 bass viols & continuo ("Winter") | 14:00 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 51 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 1 in C major, "January" | 5:13 min | - | |
| 52 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 2 in C major, "February" | 4:20 min | - | |
| 53 | Fantasias (12) for ensemble "The Months": No. 3 in C major, "March" | 4:14 min | - | |
| 54 | A Ground for ye harpsicord | 3:41 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring Christopher Simpson
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Christopher Simpson (2) – Sirius Viols – The Four Seasons(CD, Album) | 2016 | Deutsche Harmonia Mundi |
| 2 |  |
Christopher Simpson (2), Chelys Consort Of Viols – Ayres & Graces(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel) | 2015 | BIS |
| 3 |  |
John Jenkins (5), William Lawes, Christopher Simpson (2), Thomas Baltzar, Solomon Eccles, John Banister (2) - Musicke & Mirth – Division-Musick(CD, ) | 2012 | Ramée |
| 4 |  |
Wieland Kuijken, Sigiswald Kuijken, Robert Kohnen – Music For A Viol | 2011 | Accent |
| 5 |  |
Christopher Simpson (2) - Sophie Watillon, Friederike Heumann, Brian Franklin (2), Matthias Spaeter, Luca Guglielmi – The Seasons, The Monthes & Other Divisions Of Time - I(CD, Album) | 2005 | Alpha Productions |
| 6 |  |
Christopher Simpson (2), Bourrasque – The Months(CD, Album) | 2005 | Classico |
| 7 |  |
Wieland Kuijken, Abel • Ortiz • Schenck • Telemann • Simpson • Hume – Viola Da Gamba Solo Recital(CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo) | 2003 | Denon |
| 8 |  |
Tobias Hume, Christopher Simpson (2), August Kühnel, Carl Friedrich Abel, Georg Philipp Telemann, Fabrizio Lepri – Touch Me Lightly(CD, ) | 2002 | Discovery Label |
| 9 |  |
Christopher Simpson (2), Les Voix Humaines – The 4 Seasons(CD, ) | 2000 | Atma Classique |
| 10 |  |
Jérôme Hantaï, Kaori Uemura, Couperin, Locke, Sainte-Colombe, Schaffrath, Simpson – Pièces Pour Deux Basses De Viole(CD, Album, Stereo) | 1999 | Virgin Veritas |
| 11 |  |
Simpson - Sonnerie – The Monthes(CD, Album) | 1998 | Virgin Veritas |
| 12 |  |
Les Voix Humaines, Suzie LeBlanc, Susie Napper, Margaret Little, Giovanni Coprario, Tobias Hume, John Jenkins (5), Alfonso Ferrabosco, Christopher Simpson (2) – The Spirit Of Musicke / Viola and Voice(CD, Stereo) | 1998 | Atma Classique |
| 13 |  |
Wieland Kuijken, Abel • Ortiz • Schenck • Telemann • Simpson • Hume – Viola Da Gamba Solo Recital(CD, ) | 1993 | Denon |
| 14 |  |
J.S. Bach, Thomas Marc, Christopher Simpson (2), Jean-Henry d'Anglebert, Cecile Dolmetsch – Viol And Harpsichord Recital(LP) | - | Chantry Records (3) |
Videos featuring Christopher Simpson
Christopher Simpson - The Seasons, The Monthes & other divisions of time ; S Watillon
01. The Winter - 1. Fancy 0:00
02. The Winter - 2. Aire
03. The Winter - 3. Galliard
04. Divisions in a
05. The Monthes - January
06. The Monthes - February
07. The Monthes - March
08. Prélude
09. Minuritiones septimae (divisions in e)
10. The Spring - 1.
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