The instrumental technique for the French lute was so refined that, as Charles de Lespine stated, the touch of the string should sound "as if one were tapping a knife against a glass."
Composer's Artistic Vision
The album's concept is inspired by the 17th-century philosophical theory of the four humours of Hippocrates, linking each suite to a humour, season, color, and key.
Compositional Technique
The tombeau, an allemande grave, was a form invented by French lutenists to express a deep and intimate bond with a deceased master, conveying emotions beyond words.
Interpretation
The performer, Simone Vallerotonda, chose to string the lute with gut strings at 392 hertz, the pitch used in 17th-century France, believing it dictates tempi and gives the lute its true voice.
Performer Biography
Simone Vallerotonda, the lutenist on this album, initially studied classical guitar and later pursued philosophy at university, which he credits as his "salvation" from military service.
Historical Context
In the early 17th century, French lute music developed a "broken style" (style brisé) where polyphonic structures were fragmented, and the musical texture became rarefied and minimal.
Historical Context
French lutenists were excluded from the royal court after the rise of Jean-Baptiste Lully, who, promoted by Cardinal Mazarin, favored opera and ballet over more intimate musical genres.
