Some pieces on the album use a prototype 6-course lute, made by César Arias, specifically designed to be strung with metal strings, inspired by historical documents mentioning such lutes.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The album explores the emotions of Renaissance people when confronted with the night, expressed through various musical genres by French, Italian, and Spanish musicians of the 15th and 16th centuries.
Cultural Impact
In 15th-century Neoplatonic theory, the lute was seen by humanists as a mediator between man and the universe, considered the modern heir to the ancient seven-stringed lyre, with its strings relating to the seven planets and the Pleiades.
Historical Context
During the Renaissance, astronomy was taught alongside music as a mathematical discipline and was considered vital for daily life, influencing everything from political choices to medicine and agriculture.
Album & Artwork
The album's cover illustration is a detail from Adam Elsheimer's 1609 painting, 'Flight into Egypt'.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in May 2022 at the église Notre-Dame de Centeilles, with Jérôme Lejeune handling both recording and artistic direction.
Instruments
Most pieces on this recording feature a 7-course lute, a 1984 copy by Stephen Gottlieb of a 1580 Giovanni Hieber instrument, strung with gut strings.
