The twelve-course lute, used for this recording, was a preferred instrument in France during the first half of the 17th century and remained fashionable in England for all the English pieces on the album.
Performer Biography
Anthony Bailes, the lutenist on this album, initially studied guitar before a chance meeting led him to buy a lute and study with Diana Poulton, a renowned lutenist.
Compositional Technique
The album features music written in "accords nouveaux" (new tunings), which were a significant development in 17th-century lute music, inspiring sublime compositions.
Composer Biography
René Mesangeau, a French composer on this album, was considered one of France's most celebrated lutenists in the early 17th century, with his contemporaries praising him for bringing the lute to its "first perfection."
Performer Biography
Anthony Bailes' interpretations of 17th-century French and German music are highly esteemed and have received several awards, with some of his recordings considered "milestones."
Historical Context
The 17th century saw extensive experimentation in lute construction, including adding more strings, fitting secondary soundboards for sympathetic metal strings, and even placing organ pipes inside the body to enhance resonance.
Instruments
During the 17th century, French lutenists sought out high-quality old Bologna lutes from legendary makers like Laux Maler and Hans Frey, even traveling to Bologna and paying any price for them.
You might also enjoy...
Bach Reimagines Bach
Galanterie: Music for lute by Sylvius Leopold Weiss, Vol. 3
