Pieces for baroque lute

From the Burwell Lute Tutor Book

(2nd half of the 17th century)

Presented by Bernhard Fischer, 2018

 Introduction

The Burwell Lute Tutor Book is a manuscript tutor for the baroque lute. The manuscript is a pupil’s copy of
a method written by an Englishman (the name Mr. John Rogers has been suggested) who claims was
himself a pupil of Ennemond Gaultier. The teacher corrected the pupil’s copy of the text and filled in the
music examples.

The Burwell lute tutor is a fascinating source of information concerning the practice of lute playing and
opinions attributed to Ennemond or Vieux Gaultier.

For teaching practice, the manuscript contains examples of French-style lute pieces, mainly fragments and
sometimes individual bars only. Some of the pieces are known, and concordances exist in other lute
manuscript of that time, other pieces are new and unique.

However, the music examples are chaotic, with both teacher and pupil contributing to mistakes.
Accordingly, I took the chance to complete various pieces (fragments) based on a concordance piece if
available, and to correct if advised.

In addition to the reference to French lute pieces, the manuscript describes in great detail how the music is
played on the baroque lute, when and how to use the thumb and the first and second finger of the right
hand, how to play big and the small chords, ornaments, etc. I do not remember that today’s baroque lute
practice makes use of these basic rules, perhaps these detailed information are rarely found in other lute
instructions and today’s lute player are not trained and/or not interested to play the authentic style.
 Table of content

Corant du But (d minor) 6th Chapter, 17v

Saraband of English Gaultier (F Major) 8th Chapter, 27r
Example of Ciacona [of Vieux Gaultier] (F Major) 9th Chapter, 32v
Sans cote [Les Tricotins] (d minor) 10th Chapter, 37v
Saraband [PL: Sarabande de Madame Royale, Pinel] (d minor) 10th Chapter, 37v
Corant (d minor) 10th Chapter, 38r
Saraband (F Major) 15th Chapter, 48r
Saraband by Marquis of Mortmar (d minor) 15th Chapter, 61v
Corant Mr. Gaultier [La Rhetorique des dieux, Part VII, Mode Mixolydien (F Major) 15th Chapter, 62r
Saraband Mr. Vincent (g minor) 15th Chapter, 62v
Saraband Mr. Gaultier of Paris (a minor) 15th Chapter, 63r
Corant Mr. Pinel (C Major) 15th Chapter, 63v
Brass block bearing the arms of Burwell impaling Derehaugh