Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
This little release explores a rather obscure corner of the viola da gamba repertory: the English duet for viols. This music deserves to be better known, and the recording's commercial success upon its release in 2017 is noteworthy. Most of the music comes from two composers, John Jenkins and Christopher Simpson, who are known for viol ensemble music, if at all; there are also a few airs for two viols by the even more obscure Simon Ives. The duos do not resemble the bicinia of continental music, which are little counterpoint exercises, nor the inward world of French viol music, nor even the duo fantasias of Gibbons. Instead they are of two types, both highly listenable: the "divisions," or sets of short variations by Jenkins (with a few by Simpson), and preludes by Simpson. The divisions, which were originally an improvisatory form at least in part, were designated as being for "learners," but in fact they often display a high level of virtuosity, with one of the viols playing a dominant role. Sample the Air with Divisions in C major, VdGS 11, for a convincing piece of virtuoso viol music that is consistently inventive. The preludes are more adventurous harmonically and put the viols in a more equal role, but they differ considerably in mood and texture. The performances by Robert Smith and Paolo Pandolfo are equal to the considerable demands of the music, but the overly resonant church sound is wrong for this intimate style. Still, it's no wonder that buyers are taking pleasure in discovering these obscure treasures.
© TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Christopher Simpson, Composer - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Christopher Simpson, Composer
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
John Jenkins, Composer - Robert Smith, MainArtist - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Christopher Simpson, Composer
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
John Jenkins, Composer - Robert Smith, MainArtist - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
John Jenkins, Composer - Robert Smith, MainArtist - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist - Simon Ives, Composer
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Christopher Simpson, Composer
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Christopher Simpson, Composer - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
John Jenkins, Composer - Robert Smith, MainArtist - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
John Jenkins, Composer - Robert Smith, MainArtist - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Christopher Simpson, Composer - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
John Jenkins, Composer - Robert Smith, MainArtist - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Christopher Simpson, Composer
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
John Jenkins, Composer - Robert Smith, MainArtist - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist - Simon Ives, Composer
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, Composer, MainArtist, MusicPublisher - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Christopher Simpson, Composer - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
John Jenkins, Composer - Robert Smith, MainArtist - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
John Jenkins, Composer - Robert Smith, MainArtist - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Christopher Simpson, Composer
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Robert Smith, MainArtist - Christopher Simpson, Composer - Paolo Pandolfo, MainArtist
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Album review
This little release explores a rather obscure corner of the viola da gamba repertory: the English duet for viols. This music deserves to be better known, and the recording's commercial success upon its release in 2017 is noteworthy. Most of the music comes from two composers, John Jenkins and Christopher Simpson, who are known for viol ensemble music, if at all; there are also a few airs for two viols by the even more obscure Simon Ives. The duos do not resemble the bicinia of continental music, which are little counterpoint exercises, nor the inward world of French viol music, nor even the duo fantasias of Gibbons. Instead they are of two types, both highly listenable: the "divisions," or sets of short variations by Jenkins (with a few by Simpson), and preludes by Simpson. The divisions, which were originally an improvisatory form at least in part, were designated as being for "learners," but in fact they often display a high level of virtuosity, with one of the viols playing a dominant role. Sample the Air with Divisions in C major, VdGS 11, for a convincing piece of virtuoso viol music that is consistently inventive. The preludes are more adventurous harmonically and put the viols in a more equal role, but they differ considerably in mood and texture. The performances by Robert Smith and Paolo Pandolfo are equal to the considerable demands of the music, but the overly resonant church sound is wrong for this intimate style. Still, it's no wonder that buyers are taking pleasure in discovering these obscure treasures.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 22 track(s)
- Total length: 01:13:37
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Robert Smith Paolo Pandolfo
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Resonus Classics
- Genre: Classical
(C) 2017 Resonus Limited (P) 2017 Resonus Limited
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.
