French lute composers

Introduction

French written lute music began, as far as we know, with Pierre Attaingnant's (c. 1494 – c. 1551) prints, which comprised preludes, dances and intabulations. Particularly important was the Italian composer Albert de Rippe (1500–1551), who worked in France and composed polyphonic fantasias of considerable complexity. His work was published posthumously by his pupil, Guillaume de Morlaye (born c. 1510), who, however, did not pick up the complex polyphony of Albert de Rippe (1500–1551).

French lute music declined during the second part of the 16th century; however, various changes to the instrument (the increase of diapason strings, new tunings, etc.) prompted an important change in style that led, during the early Baroque, to the celebrated style brisé: broken, arpeggiated textures that influenced German composer Johann Jakob Froberger's (1616-1667) suites.

The French Baroque school is exemplified by composers such as Ennemond Gaultier (1575–1651), Denis Gaultier (1597–1672), François Dufaut (1604–1672), Jacques Gallot and Charles Mouton. The last stage of French lute music is was dominated by the master composer Robert de Visée (1655–1732/3), whose suites exploit the instrument's possibilities to the fullest.