The Generous Viol

John Jenkins and Christopher Simpson

John Jenkins and Christopher Simpson lived during the tumultuous first half of the 17th century. Britain was torn by both religious and political conflicts, resulting in the execution of a king and a bloody civil war, followed by the 10-year tyrannical rule of Oliver Cromwell. Jenkins -the elder of the two and in a higher position- managed to withdraw to the relatively peaceful countryside, but Simpson was not so lucky. It is very likely that he had to fight as a soldier. Both composers were famous viol players in their time. Simpson was mainly known as a virtuoso improviser on the division viol, while Jenkins' specialties were the lyra viol and the lute.

Freek Borstlap - treble viol & division viol; Gesina Liedmeier - Lyra viol & division viol; Christine Brelowski - Treble viol & division viol; Ad van Sleuwen - Organ & harpsichord