Division-musick: Misicke & Mirth

Musicke & Mirth: Jane Achtman & Irene Klein, viola; da gamba and lyra viol; Amandine Beyer, violin; Johannes Strobl, virginal and organ

The Art of Diminution in England in the 17th Century

"Division-Musick" is a term used by Christopher Simpson during the 17th century to describe a typically English improvisatory style of diminution. Musicians generally used short bass melodies called grounds as the basis for intricate and virtuoso diminutions, beginning with simple and slow melodies over a bass melody, and ending with very fast and virtuosic diminutions after a varying number of repetitions of the melody. Both singers and instrumentalists practiced this art of diminution, but the preferred instrument for divisions was the so-called "division viol". This CD aims to give some audible insight into English virtuosity in the Baroque era.

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