Simpson, Christopher (c. 1605-1669)

English viola da gamba player, theorist, and composer. He was employed as a private tutor to the family of Sir Robert Bolles, and wrote many works for solo viol and for viol consorts. His instruction book for the viola da gamba, The Division-Violist (1659), was highly successful.

He joined the royalist army under the Duke of Newcastle in 1643 and endured much hardship, but later came under the patronage of Sir Robert Bolles, at whose residences at Scampton and in London he lived in comfort, teaching the children of the family and taking charge of the domestic music-making. He bought a house and farm at Pickering, Yorkshire, but died at one of Sir John Bolles's houses. He wrote another treatise, The Principles of Practicle Musick and annotations to Campion's Art of Descant.

Works Works for viol and viola da gamba Months and Seasons for a treble and two bass viols, fancies and consorts for viols, suite in three parts for viols, divisions (variations) and pieces for viola da gamba.