The great French lutenists were above all formidable soloists, but often the solo music they wrote was accompanied in manuscript sources by a complementary part (the "counterpart") written for a second lute that would add harmony and resonance, and sometimes even extend thematic material, of the solo piece. While the solo piece could always stand alone, the addition of a second lute gives a result that is something rather more than the sum of its parts: sumptuous texture, synergistic sound, and greater compositional robustness, all of which is rare to hear in the modern concert hall.

Martin and Walker felt that the repertoire needed some longer, more involved pieces in addition to the characteristic small dance form prevalent in the repertoire. Seeking to discover a larger scale chaconne for duo turned fruitless, so Gamut Music commissioned Minnesota composer Tyler Kaiser to compose two counterparties; one for the G major Chaconne, the other for the A major Chaconne (Sarabande). He did so in a convincing manner, enhancing each respective piece without changing the character, and keeping in the style of each work.

Finally, a short note about the instruments used for this recording. In order to maximize the balance that is necessary for this remarkably delicate repertoire, the artists are playing an identical matching set of eleven-course French lutes that were specifically made for the recording by the gifted luthier Daniel Larson. The lutes are strung entirely with pure gut strings that were made by Gamut Music, and the nuance, warmth and depth of sound is immediately apparent to the discerning audiophile.

1. Chaconne In G Major (Charles Mouton)
2. I Courante L'Admirable from Pieces In A Minor (Pierre Dubut)
3. II Courante from Pieces In A Minor (Pierre Dubut)
4. III Sarabande La Royale from Pieces In A Minor (Pierre Dubut)
5. IV Canaries Ou Gigue Du Roy from Pieces In A Minor (Pierre Dubut)
6. I Allemande from Suite In C Minor (Francois Dufault)
7. II Courante from Suite In C Minor (Francois Dufault)
8. III Sarabande from Suite In C Minor (Francois Dufault)
9. IV Gigue from Suite In C Minor (Francois Dufault)
10. IV Menuet from Suite In C Minor (Francois Dufault)
11. Courante L'Imortelle from Pieces In D Minor And A Minor (Ennemond Vieux Gaultier)
12. Courante from Pieces In D Minor And A Minor (Denis Gaultier)
13. L'Adieu Courante from Pieces In D Minor And A Minor (Ennemond Vieux Gaultier)
14. Sarabande from Pieces In D Minor And A Minor (Denis Gaultier)
15. Allemande (Tombeau de L'Enclos) from Pieces In D Minor And A Minor (Ennemond Vieux Gaultier)
16. Canaries from Pieces In D Minor And A Minor (Ennemond Vieux Gaultier)
17. Chaconne (Sarabande) in A Minor (Ennemond Vieux Gaultier)

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 02/17/2015
Edward Martin and Thomas Walker lives in Minnesota USA

Tagged as: Classical, Renaissance, Instrumental, Composer: Charles Mouton, Composer: Denis Gaultier, Composer: Ennemond Vieux Gaultier, Composer: Francois Dufault, Composer: Pierre Dubut, Lute

1. Cifras Selectas de Guitarra, Santiago de Murcia 1722 by Eduardo Figueroa and Oscar Ohlsen: Chilean baroque guitar duo
2. Dowland's Dialogues, Volume One by English Ayres: traditional early English music
3. The Birth of a Dancing Star by Gianmarco Leone: Emotional piano explorations
4. Sylvius Leopold Weiss Suites no 36 et 40 Lobkowitz by Mauricio Buraglia: a marvelous classical spiral of lute sounds
5. Pasquale Pericoli - Sei Sonate a Violoncello e basso by Vito Paternoster: cellist extraordinaire
6. The Cello and the Revolution, Music for Diderot by Vito Paternoster: cellist extraordinaire
7. The Art of the Lute Player by Jacob Heringman: renaissance lute
8. Baroque Lute Duets by Edward Martin and Paul Berget: vihuela, renaissance and baroque lute
9. Black Cow by Jacob Heringman: renaissance lute
10. Deux Grands Maitres de l'Ecriture pour le Luth Baroque et le Theorbe by Mauricio Buraglia: a marvelous classical spiral of lute sounds
11. Guitarscapes by Jeff Wahl: acoustic new age and jazz guitar.
12. Stolen Jewels by Ensemble Vermillian: Richly textured 17th and 18th century cello and recorder
13. Lautenschmaus by Daniel Shoskes: A feast of Baroque lute
14. Luis Milan El Maestro by Jacob Heringman and Catherine King: renaissance songs
15. Vihuela Duets of Valderrabano by Duo Chambure: Spanish renaissance vihuela duets
16. The Siena Manuscript on renaissance lute by Paul Berget: renaissance lute, modernized.
17. Weiss Undercover by Daniel Shoskes: A feast of Baroque lute
18. JS Bach on the Lute by Paul Berget: renaissance lute, modernized.
19. Dolci Miei Sospiri by Ensemble Carpe Diem: Early music featuring Italian affetti from Switzerland
20. Virtues and Vices by Edward Martin and William Bastian: vihuela, renaissance and baroque lute

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