The Noble Bass Viol

Anonymous (North German c.1620)Fantasia in Bastart
Sieur de Machy (fl.1685-92)Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue & Gavotte from Pièces de violle
William Young (d. 1662)Prelude
August Kühnel (1645 – c.1700) Suite No. 13 in A minor
Jean de Sainte-Colombe (c.1658 – 1687)Prelude
Marin Marais (1656 – 1728)Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande Grave, Gigue, Double Rondeau & La Polonoise from Pièces de violes, 2e livre

  • Mark Caudle bass viol

In the seventeenth century the bass viol was developed as a solo instrument rivalling the lute.  This programme explores its unaccompanied repertoire, contrasting music by the French composers Marais, Sainte-Colombe and de Machy with the German August Kühnel and the Englishman William Young.

Mark Caudle, for many years a resident of Polstead, is now recognised as one of Britain’s foremost viol players.