Solo Programmes

Mr ABEL'S FINE AIRS - Carl Friedrich Abel (1723 - 1787) Music for Viola da Gamba

Abel's music for solo viol belongs to the most superior works in the repertory for this special instrument. His pieces present an unique collection of improvisatory Adagios, Fugues, rhapsodic Preludes and elegant pre-classical Allegros which all capture the different sounds and virtuosic possibilities of the viol as a chordal and melodic instrument. It shows how well Abel knew the instrument and gives insight into the improvisatory element in his music.
Abel came to London to found the famous Bach-Abel concerts together with JC Bach and came to some considerable wealth within a short period of time. He had pupils and friends in the upper circles, such as Thomas Gainsborough and the Countess of Pembroke, but was known to be an impatient teacher. His drinking problem, to which he later succumbed, was said to be the source for his excellence in improvising pieces on the spot. Especially his magical Adagios were highly rated by his audience, and musicians of the time took the 'Abel-Adagio' as an example of writing slow movements. Abel died at the age of 64 and was buried at St Pancras Old Church Cemetery, London. Charles Burney thought of Abel as the last real viol player, with whom the instrument was buried forever (some have been tempted to find his grave and dig up the instrument, but I believe Burney meant this metaphorically).

See also MR ABEL'S FINE AIRS on Hyperion Records

Associated projects:

The Death of LeFever with Patrick Wildgust of Shandy Hall. Sterne's Death of LeFever & Music by CF Abel

Thomas Gainsborough & Carl Friedrich Abel. Talk, slideshow and music with James Heard, National Gallery

PUNCK'S DELIGHT - Music for the 'Lyra Viol'

A rare opportunity to hear viol music from its Golden Era. During the first half of the 17th century the bass viol was extremely popular in England, not only for its flexibility in the use for Consort Music, but also as a solo instrument. Because of its close relationship to the lute, the viol was seen not only as a melodic instrument, but was much loved for its chordal capabilities. The 6 strings, fairly close together, in combination with the rounded bridge and the convenient tuning in 4th and 3rds made it the ideal instrument to be self-sufficient. Musicians and composers quickly discovered the subtle transformation the viol underwent when tuned in Scordatura, depending on the key and mood desired. With a notation in tablature over 20 different ways to tune the so-called 'lyra' viol were found and countless popular tunes of the time were arranged for this versatile instrument.

In this programme 4 different tunings are represented with music by Hume, Corkine, Ferrabosco, Sumarte and Anonymous.

For Solo Lyra Viol Music by Tobias Hume see 'Passion & Division' on Hyperion Records

ARABESQUE
Music by Finger, Hume, Marais, Abel and Telemann with Lynda Sayce, lute & theorbo

FRET KNOT
Solos and duets by Simpson, Jenkins, Locke and Purcell for 2 viols and lute. with Susanna Pell & Lynda Sayce

THE GRAND TOURISTS
Music by Handel, Telemann, Ortiz and Geminiani with Pamela Thorby (recorder) and Liz Kenny (theorbo)