Apollon Orateur: 17th Century French Lute Music

The association of Denis Gaultier with Apollo in a 17th century lute manuscript is not as audacious as it might at first appear: the lutenist was held in great esteem by his contemporaries; for many he was the embodiment of genius on the lute and one of the very few capable of "speaking" to his listeners. At first glance, his compositions seem little different from those of his colleagues, but further examination reveals a sophistication unparalleled in any other lute music of the period. One is immediately struck by the economy of the writing, in which no note is superfluous and the musical structure is reduced to its essence. This minimalist approach is even more apparent in later, published versions that show subtle traces of revision. Denis Gaultier exploited the instrument to the fullest, and in doing so took the art of lute-playing to a realm undreamt of by elder colleagues. His music placed great demands on the lutenist, instrument, and listener alike for, knowing what could be achieved, Gaultier chose to push the instrument to its limits, and everyone else along with it.