Milano: Intavolatura de viola o vero lauto, libro primo

Paul Beier

Released on 1999-01-01 by Stradivarius
Main artists: Paul Beier
Genre: Classical

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Stradivarius is an Italian company that often produces desirable, high-quality recordings of classical music that are difficult to adapt for the English-speaking market. Past issues often have a cheap look, translations are poor, and the best thing about the package has been the part of it that goes into the player, especially as these issues are typically marketed at a full-price point. However, the products from Stradivarius have gotten better. Take for example Francesco da Milano: Intabolatura da Leuto, previously issued in 1999 on the main Stradivarius label but now relocated to its cheaper, and more attractive Echo Series, which appears to be roughly equivalent in function for Stradivarius as the Musique d'abord product line is to Harmonia Mundi. This release focuses on a mysterious, undated printed folio of Francesco's music of unknown provenance that is estimated to have been published around 1530. Intabolatura da Leuto is likely the only one among the many publications of Francesco's lute music that the composer might have had a hand in preparing; it is very well made and seems to have been engraved from copper plates, a practice otherwise unknown in music printing of this period and not adopted until long afterward. One copy of this unique print is located in National Library of Vienna, and this has provided the basis for Paul Beier's performance of the Francesco's lute music on Francesco da Milano: Intabolatura da Leuto. Beier, former leader of the Ensemble Galilei and leader of Ensemble Galatea, is an expert English lutenist based in Milan. He strongly identifies with the music of Francesco and easily "ravishes the souls of his hearers" (paraphrasing Grove's), performing on a six-course instrument specially built in honor of Francesco's 500th birthday in 1997. It is sensitive and moving music, artfully crafted, and here, very well recorded. The booklet features a long essay by Francesco authority Franco Pavan reproduced in tiny print that covers the bibliographic provenance of Intabolatura da Leuto in pin-point detail; while it will be of interest to antiquarians, most readers will likely never make their way through it. However, the music is the main point of interest, and Stradivarius deserves credit for the strides it is taking in terms of making recordings accessible to non-Italian markets; lute fanciers should not miss this one.
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Milano: Intavolatura de viola o vero lauto, libro primo

Paul Beier

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