Musicke & Mirth - Division-Musick: The Art Of Diminution In England In The 17th Century
Works by John Jenkins, William Lawes, Christopher Simpson, Thomas Baltzar, Solomon Eccles
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz: 1,14 GB | Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Ramée # RAM 1204 | Country/Year: France 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Baroque, Sacred | Source: Qobuz

”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.