The Edward Lewis viol of 1703
Henrik Persson
Barn Cottage Recordings BCR028. 72’44

Hely Suite in A minor; Suite in A major
Brown Three Ayres
Telemann Fantasia no. 6 in G major; Fantasia no. 7 in G minor
Sumarte Prelude and Daphne, Monsieur’s Almain, Lachryme; Fortune my Foe
Anon Dances from the Williamsburg Musick Song Book
Anon Suite in D major from the Brünner MS
Hume Good Againe

A companion recording to Newe Vialles Old Viols, reviewed here, focuses on the 1703 Edward Lewis bass viol, played by Henrick Persson. The music is by Benjamin Hely, Thomas Brown, Telemann, Richard Sumarte and Tobias Hume, together with dances from the Williamsburg Musick Song Book of 1738 (the only known compositions for viola da gamba from an 18th-century American source) and traces the development of solo viol music from Hume up to the time of Telemann. There are 14 bass viols by Edward Lewis known to have survived to the present day, of which only seven are in performance condition. The one used on this recording is the only playable one in the UK, owned by the viol maker, Jane Julier, who loaned the instrument. The sound is absolutely gorgeous, with rich and resonant harmonics, here helped by a generous acoustic.

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