Paul Beier

Eleven imaginative and melodically striking vocal pieces from a collection published in 1660, towards the end of the relatively short life of one of the most famous female composers, Barbara Strozzi. Ranging in length from two minutes to 14 and with a variety of moods to match, they are performed with feeling (though not a lot of colour) by Emanuela Galli with jangling support from Ensemble Galilei’s three guitars, four theorbos and (only one) organ. The haunting Lagrime mie is alone worth the price of the disc.

Sonata for three violins from Book 6 (1636) deservedly most popular. She opens Galatea’s disc and immediately you know you’re in for a treat: a fabulously fantastical disputation between three flighty fiddles, dispatched here with a voluble virtuosity and gesturing grandiloquence the Italians tried to kid us they alone possess. The dance movements have got rhythm, too, especially the galliards; and the continuo’s a sheer pluckfest.

Francesco da Milano - Intabolatura da Leuto (1530 ca) - Paul Beier, lute (1999) {Stradivarius STR11010 rel 2006}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 226 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 139 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 44 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1999, 2006 Stradivarius | STR 11010 | Echo Series
Classical / Renaissance / Chamber Music / Lute

This book (entablature) of lute pieces was published about 1530 by Francesco da Milano (1497-1543), known in his day along with Michelangelo as "Il Divino." The foremost lutenist of the Italian Renaissance, he served three popes and two cardinals. His works were published throughout Europe. "Clear phrasing captured by Beier with exquisite taste and without ostentation." -Goldberg

Recordings by solo lutenists have been numerous since the beginning of the 21st century. Cynics would say that in an era of declining government subvention it's cheaper to pay a single lutenist than an orchestra or choir, but it's also true that the lute repertory of the 17th and 18th centuries has historically been undervalued, left to a few specialists, despite the fact that court lutenists were some of the most celebrated and highly paid musicians of the time. This recording deals with a 1667 publication, Delitiae Testudinis (Delights of the Lute), by the little-known Esias Reusner, who was active in the German city of Brieg (now Brzeg, Poland).

Adam Falckenhagen & Sylvius Leopold Weiss - Opere Per Liuto - Paul Beier (2014) {Magnatune Digital Download rec 1994}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44kHz - Official Digital Download -> 287 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 158 Mb
Full Artwork (pdf+jpg) -> 10 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2014 Magnatune
Classical / Baroque / Instrumental / Lute

It is a pleasure to see the rerelease of Paul Beier's first effort on the Baroque Lute, recorded in a small church in Switzerland nearly twenty years ago. He had originally planned a program that included the works presented here, plus the suite in E minor by Bach, but after editing we found that the total time of the recording was over 90 minutes, and so sacrificed the Bach suite to be able to release the CD (which can hold no more than 80 minutes worth of music).

The Baroque guitar, or 'chitarra spagnuola' as it was called back then, was an enormously popular instrument throughout the Baroque period, particularly in Italy, where it's solo repertoire was first developed. The music of Ludovico Roncalli was the last book of music for Baroque guitar that was published in Italy, and is considered to be some of the best in the repertoire.