Jacques Gallot (1625 Paris - 1695) was one of the greatest composers for lute of his time, a student of Vieux Gaultier and a continuator of the French lute school, which was very popular at the court of Louis XIV as well as among the French and European aristocracies.

His works, which were spread in Europe via the lute manuscripts of his time and still half a century later, show his importance in the literature on the instrument. These compositions are treasures and intricate, exquisite jewels.

Jacques Gallot was a great educator, who was sought-after as a teacher by the great personalities of the court, which included people from around the world and foreign nobles. He had the habit of giving a live performance at his home on Saturday afternoons for the public who came and listened to his works. Thus, according to the words, writings and articles of his time, his fame was well-merited.

His music reflects the art of refinement and the preciousness of poets, philosophers, scholars, theatre performers, artists, dancers, who met up in the "Salon" to pass their art to people who appreciated and shared this passion or who searched to refine themselves through the "Belle Expression", "Belle Danse", "Belle Parole", "Beau Texte", where the straightforward word or direct, simple ideas seemed vulgar: the blatantly obvious needed to be concealed; things were implied in a thousand ways, but they weren't to be spoken out. Lutenists, such as Gallot, Gautier, Mouton, Edmond, Dubut, Dufaux, Launay, Merville, Pinel Dupre, Mesangeau to name just a few of the best-known, all had a common language and way of writing, which were highly cultivated, precious, carefully crafted and sought-after for their rhetorical effects.

In reality, each lute piece and each dance constituted a condensed theatre, in which the drama or the story of the described or flattered protagonist was presented. Most of Gallot's pieces have a mythological title or theme, are weaved around a popular, 'precious' figure from the courts, or around a politician or strange enigma, which was a mystery for all but the insiders who recognized themselves.

Written by Sylvius Léopold Weiss, the suite no. 35 in D minor from the Dresden Manuscript is a mature and elegant piece of work. Even though transparent and fluid in appearance, its language is very dense, sombre, and there's tension throughout the entire piece. Its musical architecture feels majestic, and the long phrases bear resemblance to great composers, such as Bach. A great mastery of the lute and the spontaneity of movement round off this jewel. All together, they are the signature of the great Master of the Lute, who expresses himself very easily and genuinely to the great pleasure of his listeners, who - according to the witnesses and writings of his time - he enchanted and made dream with his music.

1. Prelude (Jacques Gallot)
2. Les plaintes de psyche (Jacques Gallot)
3. La montespan - Chaconne (Jacques Gallot)
4. La bourgeoise - Volte (Jacques Gallot)
5. Le bout de l'an de Mr Gautier - Tombeau (Jacques Gallot)
6. La meurtriere - Courante et Double (Jacques Gallot)
7. La piece de huit heures - Sarabande (Jacques Gallot)
8. Le dogue d'Angleterre - Gigue (Jacques Gallot)
9. Oesope ridicule - Allemande (Jacques Gallot)
10. La belle comtesse de Berka - Gigue (Jacques Gallot)
11. Les castagnettes - Canarie (Jacques Gallot)
12. La bordeloise - Courante et Double (Jacques Gallot)
13. La jalousee - Gavotte (Jacques Gallot)
14. La cigogne - Courante (Jacques Gallot)
15. Le depart de Mr Emond - Tombeau (Jacques Gallot)
16. La levrette - Gigue (Jacques Gallot)
17. Allemande Adagio (Sylvius Leopold Weiss)
18. Courante (Sylvius Leopold Weiss)
19. Paysanne (Sylvius Leopold Weiss)
20. Sarabande Adagio (Sylvius Leopold Weiss)
21. Menuet (Sylvius Leopold Weiss)
22. Allegro (Sylvius Leopold Weiss)

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 05/24/2019
Mauricio Buraglia lives in Paris France

Tagged as: Classical, Baroque, Instrumental Classical, Composer: Jacques de Gallot, Composer: Sylvius Leopold Weiss, Lute

1. The Siena Manuscript on steel string guitar by Paul Berget: renaissance lute, modernized.
2. Le 9 sonate per violoncello solo e continuo by Vito Paternoster: cellist extraordinaire
3. Lenten is come by Briddes Roune: 13th century medieval English songs
4. Ciaconna by Ernst Stolz: Renaissance and Baroque beautiful music revealed by Dutch gambist and multi-instrumentalist
5. Guitarscapes by Jeff Wahl: acoustic new age and jazz guitar.
6. The Space Between by Chad Lawson: Multi-award winning pianist and composer who is not afraid to put his hat in anything
7. Six Sonatas for Flute and Violin - Opus 51 - Boismortier by Duo de Bois: exquisite chamber music
8. Nest by Robert Rich: groundbreaking ambient and dark-ambient
9. Mystic Journey by Suzanne Teng: world flute with a serene energy
10. A Solo Piano Christmas by Chad Lawson: Multi-award winning pianist and composer who is not afraid to put his hat in anything
11. Josquin des Prez Lute Settings by Jacob Heringman: renaissance lute
12. The Art of the Lute Player by Jacob Heringman: renaissance lute
13. Baroque Lute Duets by Edward Martin and Paul Berget: vihuela, renaissance and baroque lute
14. I Cavalieri del Liuto - The Knights of the Lute by Paul Beier: solo lute of the Italian renaissance.
15. Barbara Strozzi - Diporti di Euterpe by Paul Beier: solo lute of the Italian renaissance.
16. Un Tres Doulx Regard by Asteria: late-medieval vocal and instrumental music
17. Impressions by Carlos Schwarz: passionate, evocative, and captivating new age
18. Christmas Guitar by Jeff Wahl: acoustic new age and jazz guitar.
19. The Chopin Variations (on piano, violin and cello) by Chad Lawson: Multi-award winning pianist and composer who is not afraid to put his hat in anything
20. A Spagna in the Works by Alison Crum and Roy Marks: Ethereal, enigmatic and exhilarating renaissance miniature masterpieces for viol and lute

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