Christopher Simpson The 4 Seasons Les Voix Humaines Susie Napper, Margaret Little, Jay Bernfeld, violes | viols Mike Fentross, théorbe | theorbo   Réjean Poirier, orgue | organ ACD2 2182 Christopher Simpson was the most important English writer on music in his time, and was remembered by Matthew Locke in 1672 as “a Person whose memory is precious among good and knowing Men, for his exemplary life and excellent skill.”   John Jenkins referred to him as his “very precious friend.” Simpson's 4 Seasons were the last flowering of the English vogue for divisions, an art that lived on in the well-loved chaconne in the late 17th and 18th centuries, and is still practiced by rock groups today. Divisions use a short, repeated motif in the bass, called a Ground, as the structural device to give the piece coherence.   Divisions “divide” the beat into many smaller notes - not any notes, of course, but what jazz musicians call “licks” and musicians in Simpson's day thought of as figures. Simpson was himself the author of the best written discussion of divisions, a book he called The Division- violist; or An Introduction to the Playing upon a Ground, first published in 1659. … - Bruce Haynes Christopher Simpson (c 1605-1669) The 4 Seasons       Spring         16:23   1. Fantasia     06:03   2. Ayre     04:45   3. Galliard     05:35       Summer         15:14   4. Fantasia     05:22   5. Ayre     05:27   6. Galliard     04:25       Autumne         13:28   7. Fantasia     05:38   8. Ayre     04:00   9. Galliard     03:50       Winter         13:39 10. Fantasia     05:52 11. Ayre     03:12 12. Galliard     04:35 ATMA Classique is distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading PO Box 44, Briar Hill, Vic, 3088, Australia Telephone +61 (0)3 9432 4149 ~ Telephone +61 (0)3 9444 6879