Robert de Visée, Pièces de théorbe - Hopkinson Smith

A theorbo (from Italian tiorba, also tuorbe in French, Theorbe in German) is a plucked string instrument. As a name, theorbo signifies a number of long-necked lutes with second peg-boxes, such as the liuto attiorbato, the arciliuto, the French théorbe des pieces, the English theorbo, the archlute, the German baroque lute, the angelique or angelica. (Wikipedia)



Robert de Visée (c.1650 - 1725) was a lutenist, guitarist, theorbist and viol player at the court of Louis the XIV, as wel as a singer, and composer for lute, theorbo and guitar.

Robert de Visée's origin is unknown, although a Portuguese origin of his surname had been suggested. He was likely to have studied with Francesco Corbetta. About 1680 he became a chamber musician to Louis XIV, in which capacity he often performed at court. He is also mentioned (in 1709) as a singer in the royal chamber, and in 1719 he became the guitar teacher to the king Louis XIV. Rousseau reported that he also played the viol at court. Visée wrote two books of guitar music which contained twelve suites between them: Livre de guitare dédié au roy (Paris, 1682) and Livre de piéces pour la guitare (Paris 1686). He composed many suites of pieces for theorbo and Baroque lute (the bulk of which are preserved in the Saizenay Ms.), as well as a collection of ensemble pieces. (Wikipedia)

The scores and tablatures of some pieces of Robert de Visée can be found at http://icking-music-archive.org/ByComposer/Visee.php

Some other pieces are transcribed in tablature by Finnish lutenist Arto Wikla and to be downloaded at http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/wikla/mus/visee.html. To display (and even play!) them, you will have to download the free Fronimo lute tablature program as well: http://www.theaterofmusic.com/fronimo/ . A Fronimo tutorial can be read here: http://www.mateus-lutes.com/fronimo/, and many pieces transcribed in tablature for Fronimo can be downloaded for free here: http://home.earthlink.net/~guitarandlute/fronimo.html.



This post also includes the tablatures of the lute and theorbe works of Robert De Visée transcribed by Richard Civiol, in .pdf.

Robert de Visée
Pièces de théorbe
Hopkinson Smith
Astrée AS 38 [LP]
Astrée (Auvidis) E 7733 [CD]

Contents

Suite en Ré majeur

1. Prélude
2. Allemande
3. Courante
4. Gavotte
5. Sarabande
6. Gigue

Suite en Ut mineur

7. Prélude
8. La plainte - ou Tombeau de Mesdemoiselles de Visée. Alamande de Mr leur Père
9. Courante
10. Sarabande
11. Gigue

Rondeau de Mr de Visée

12. La Muzette

Suite en Ré mineur
13. Prélude
14. Allemande
15. Courante
16. Gavotte
17. Menuet
18. Sarabande
19. Gigue

mises par Mr de Visée

20. Entrée des Espagnols de Mr de Lully

Mr de Visée
21. Les Sylvains de Mr de Couperin

Playing time: 57' 30"

Performer:
Hopkinson Smith (theorbo)

Recording site and date:
Église romane de Saint Lambert des Bois, Yvelines, France [04/1978];
Rel.: 1979 (AS), 1989 (E)

Download:

http://www.ftp2share.com/file/14588/DeViseeHopkinsonSmith.html

See my previous posts of lute works performed by Hopkinson Smith:
• Charles Mouton
• Bach, Lute Works
• Ennemond Gaultier ("Le Vieux Gaultier")
• Jacques Gallot ("Le Vieux Gallot de Paris")