Tue June 9, 2026
Fantasy-Suites & Divisions: Music for Viols and Organ by Lawes and Simpson
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Barefoot Chamber Concerts ("an enterprise noted for both its quality and informality" - San Francisco Classical Voice) presents really good music in the right acoustic and without the formality of most classical music events.
Barefoot's contribution to the Berkeley Festival Fringe is rarely played music for viols and organ by two legendary composer/viol players: William Lawes and Christopher Simpson.
The Lawes suites ("Fantazie - Almaine - Galliard") are exquisite pieces carefully composed for treble and bass viols and an organ obligato. Lawes' unique harmonic sense and love of curious textures is on full display, along with his trademark humor.
The Simpson "Divisions for the practice of Learners" are examples of what expert viol players such as Simpson himself were famous for: extemporizing over a ground bass. This skill was the core of so many viol players' reputations in the 17th century, and although the ability is lost to us today, eight examples of the style are found at the back of Simpson's treatise "The Division Viol". This book was one of the best-selling musical publications of the time, and was reprinted twice to respond to public demand after the first edition sold out.
The program features the Barefoot Chamber Concerts House Band, the eponymous Hallifax & Jeffrey (Peter Hallifax and Julie Jeffrey, viols), with fabulous guest star Andrew Canepa, organist to the stars. It's in the fabulous acoustic of St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman, Berkeley, at 1:00 pm on June 9th. The concert will be around 45 minutes long. Don't miss this!
$20.
Presented by Barefoot Chamber Concerts
show less
Barefoot's contribution to the Berkeley Festival Fringe is rarely played music for viols and organ by two legendary composer/viol players: William Lawes and Christopher Simpson.
The Lawes suites ("Fantazie - Almaine - Galliard") are exquisite pieces carefully composed for treble and bass viols and an organ obligato. Lawes' unique harmonic sense and love of curious textures is on full display, along with his trademark humor.
The Simpson "Divisions for the practice of Learners" are examples of what expert viol players such as Simpson himself were famous for: extemporizing over a ground bass. This skill was the core of so many viol players' reputations in the 17th century, and although the ability is lost to us today, eight examples of the style are found at the back of Simpson's treatise "The Division Viol". This book was one of the best-selling musical publications of the time, and was reprinted twice to respond to public demand after the first edition sold out.
The program features the Barefoot Chamber Concerts House Band, the eponymous Hallifax & Jeffrey (Peter Hallifax and Julie Jeffrey, viols), with fabulous guest star Andrew Canepa, organist to the stars. It's in the fabulous acoustic of St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman, Berkeley, at 1:00 pm on June 9th. The concert will be around 45 minutes long. Don't miss this!
$20.
Presented by Barefoot Chamber Concerts
Barefoot Chamber Concerts ("an enterprise noted for both its quality and informality" - San Francisco Classical Voice) presents really good music in the right acoustic and without the formality of most classical music events.
Barefoot's contribution to the Berkeley Festival Fringe is rarely played music for viols and organ by two legendary composer/viol players: William Lawes and Christopher Simpson.
The Lawes suites ("Fantazie - Almaine - Galliard") are exquisite pieces carefully composed for treble and bass viols and an organ obligato. Lawes' unique harmonic sense and love of curious textures is on full display, along with his trademark humor.
The Simpson "Divisions for the practice of Learners" are examples of what expert viol players such as Simpson himself were famous for: extemporizing over a ground bass. This skill was the core of so many viol players' reputations in the 17th century, and although the ability is lost to us today, eight examples of the style are found at the back of Simpson's treatise "The Division Viol". This book was one of the best-selling musical publications of the time, and was reprinted twice to respond to public demand after the first edition sold out.
The program features the Barefoot Chamber Concerts House Band, the eponymous Hallifax & Jeffrey (Peter Hallifax and Julie Jeffrey, viols), with fabulous guest star Andrew Canepa, organist to the stars. It's in the fabulous acoustic of St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman, Berkeley, at 1:00 pm on June 9th. The concert will be around 45 minutes long. Don't miss this!
$20.
Presented by Barefoot Chamber Concerts
read more
Barefoot's contribution to the Berkeley Festival Fringe is rarely played music for viols and organ by two legendary composer/viol players: William Lawes and Christopher Simpson.
The Lawes suites ("Fantazie - Almaine - Galliard") are exquisite pieces carefully composed for treble and bass viols and an organ obligato. Lawes' unique harmonic sense and love of curious textures is on full display, along with his trademark humor.
The Simpson "Divisions for the practice of Learners" are examples of what expert viol players such as Simpson himself were famous for: extemporizing over a ground bass. This skill was the core of so many viol players' reputations in the 17th century, and although the ability is lost to us today, eight examples of the style are found at the back of Simpson's treatise "The Division Viol". This book was one of the best-selling musical publications of the time, and was reprinted twice to respond to public demand after the first edition sold out.
The program features the Barefoot Chamber Concerts House Band, the eponymous Hallifax & Jeffrey (Peter Hallifax and Julie Jeffrey, viols), with fabulous guest star Andrew Canepa, organist to the stars. It's in the fabulous acoustic of St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman, Berkeley, at 1:00 pm on June 9th. The concert will be around 45 minutes long. Don't miss this!
$20.
Presented by Barefoot Chamber Concerts
show less
Date/Times:
2005 Berryman Street, Berkeley, CA 94709
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