Exploring the Renaissance for Classical Guitar

On this page you will find resources that go with our book Exploring the Renaissance: 46 Songs, Dances, and Instrumentals for Classical Guitar. From original source material to articles and books for further reading, this page contains all you need to dive even deeper into Renaissance music.

Exploring Renaissance Music on Classical Guitar
Renaissance Lesson: Branle Gay
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Branle Gay Performance and Lesson

Video Lesson and PDF Download
Learn this charming dance from the Renaissance by Jean-Baptiste Besard. The lesson is preceded by a performance of the piece and includes a PDF download of the sheet music.

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Further resources and original sources

(Please note some sources may not have direct links as they are still under copyright.)

Cesare Negri, Lo Spagnoletto: Nuove Inventioni di Balli / Le Gratie d’Amore, part 3, fol.117 (IMSLP)

The Passe Meze Pavin: Dallis Lute Book, EIRE-Dublin, Trinity College Library, MS.410/1, fol.189r (Trinity College)

Emmanuel Adriaenssen, Canson Englesa: Pratum Musicum, fol.92r (IMSLP)

Jean-Baptiste Bésarde, Branle Gay: Thesaurus Harmonicus, Liber Octavus, fol.143  (IMSLP)

Fabrizio Caroso, Cascarda Castellana: Il Ballarino fol.140v (IMSLP)

Hans Neusidler, Die folget ein welscher tanz Wascha Mesa: Ein newgeordent künstlich Lautenbuch (IMSLP)

________, Ein niederländisch Tänzlein: Ein Newes Lautenbüchlein mit vil feiner lieblichen Liedern, für die jungen Schuler, fol.4r (Badische Landes Bibliothek)

Cesare Negri, Il Bianco Fiore: Le gratie d’Amore – Nuove Inventioni di Balli, fol.147 (IMSLP)

Pierre Blondeau, Tourdion: Dixhuit Basses Dances by Pierre Attaignant, fol.2r

(IMSLP)

Willsons Wilde: Dowland Lute Book, US-Washington, Folger-Shakespeare Library, Ms.V.b.280, fol.3r (IMSLP)

Italiana (Saltarello): Da un Codice Lautenbuch del Cinquecento by Oscar Chilesotti No.59 (IMSLP)

Italiana (Saltarello): Da un Codice Lautenbuch del Cinquecento by Oscar Chilesotti No.60 (IMSLP)

Villanella: Da un Codice Lautenbuch del Cinquecento by Oscar Chilesotti No.4 (IMSLP)

Pietro Paolo Borrono da Milano, Pescator che va cantando: Intavolatura de diversi autori by Antonio Castiglione (Milan: Casteliono, 1536), fol.39v and 40r (Österreichische Nationalbibliotek)

Pietro Paolo Borrono da Milano, Saltarello Burato: Intavolatura de diversi autori by Antonio Castiglione (Milan: Casteliono, 1536), fol.17r–v (Österreichische Nationalbibliotek)

Luis de Milan, Pavana 1: El Maestro, fol. G3v (IMSLP)

Joan Ambrosio Dalza, Calata alla Spagnola: Intablulatura de lauto (1508), Vol.IV, f.47v/48r

(IMSLP)

Marco dall’Aquila, La Traditora: Lauten Tabulaturen, BSB-Mus.ms.266 No.38c fol.33v

(IMSLP)

Robert Dowland, Almande: Margaret Board Lute Book, f.12v (Digital archive)

Vincenzo Galilei, Gagliarda Urania: Libro di Intavolatura per Liuto Parte Terza No.9 page190

(IMSLP)

Vincenzo Galilei, Gagliarda Astrea: Libro di Intavolatura per Liuto  Parte Terza No.38 page 217 (IMSLP)

Alonso de Mudarra, Gallarda: Tres Libros en Cifras para Vihuela, book 1, fol.xx (IMSLP)

Thomas Robinson, A Gigue: The Schoole of Musicke, fol.Hii (IMSLP)

Hans Judenkunig, Christ ist erstanden: Utilis et Compendiaria, fol.15 (IMSLP)

What if a Day, or a Month, or a Year?: Jane Pickeringe Lute Book, GB-London, British Library, Eg.2046, fol.5 (IMSLP)

Calleno: William Ballet Lute Book, EIRE-Dublin, Trinity College Library, MS.408/1, fol.85 (Trinity College)

John Dowland, Orlando Sleepeth: MS Dd.2.11, f.55v, Cambridge University Library (Cambridge Digital Library)

Robin Hood Is to the Greenwood Gone: William Ballet Lute Book, EIRE-Dublin, Trinity College Library, MS.408/1, fol.113 (Trinity College)

Jean-Baptiste Bésarde, Campanae Parisenses: Novus Partus Tertia Pars No.47 (IMSLP)

William Cornysh, Jr., Ah Robyn, Gentyl Robyn: Henry VIII Manuscript, GB-Lbl Add. MS 31922, foll.102–3 (IMSLP)

John Dowland, Fortune, My Foe: MS Dd.4.22, Cambrige University Library fol.11v

(Cambridge Digital Library)

Francesco da Milano, De mon triste: Intabolatura di Liuto Libro Terzo fol.7r./7v.

(IMSLP)

Luis de Narváez, Canción del Emperador: Los seys libros del Delphin de musica de cifras para tañer la vihuela, book 3, fol.45 (IMSLP)

Francis Pilkington, Rest, Sweet Nymphs: The first book of songs or airs  The English School of Lutenist Songwriters by Edmund Horace Fellowes page 24 (California University Digital Library)

John Dowland, Mr. Dowland’s Midnight: Margaret Board Lute Book, GB-Private Library of Robert Spencer, fol.26v (Casey Fitzpatrick Lute Facsimiles)

Francesco Spinacino, Recercare F49: Intabolatura de Lauto, Libro Primo, by Ottaviano Petrucci

fol.49rv/49v. (IMSLP)

Marco dall’Aquila, Recercare 33: Ms. 266 Munich, fol.28v (IMSLP)

Giovanni Maria de Crema, Recercare III: Intabolatura de Lauto Primo Livro (IMSLP)

Giovanni Maria de Crema, Recercare VI: Intabolatura de Lauto Primo Livro (IMSLP)

Luis de Milan, Fantasia 8: El Maestro, fol.C4v (IMSLP)

Francesco da Milano, Richercha (Fantasia 33): Siena Lute Book, fol.58v–59r (Philidor facsimile edition)

________, La Compagna (Fantasia 34): Siena Lute Book, fol.59r–59v (Philidor facsimile edition)

Alonso de Mudarra, Fantasia contrahaze que la harpa en la manera de Ludovico, Tres Libros en Cifras para Vihuela, book 1, foll.xiii–xv (IMSLP)

John Dowland, A Fancy: Cosens Lute Book, Add MS 3056, Cambridge Library University f.7v/8r (Cambridge University Digital Library)

________, Fantasie 7: Robert Dowland, A Varietie of Lute Lessons, fol. H–H2 (IMSLP)

Ruth I. Deford, Tactus, Mensuration, and Rhythm in Renaissance Music (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2015).

Frank Koonce, The Renaissance Vihuela & Guitar in Sixteenth-Century Spain, The Frank Koonce Series (Pacific, MO: Mel Bay, 2008).

Frederick Noad, The Renaissance Guitar, The Frederick Noad Anthology (New York: Ariel, 1974).

Diana Poulton, John Dowland, 2nd ed. (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1982).

Diana Poulton and Basil Lam, eds., The Collected Music of John Dowland: Lute Tablature and Keyboard Notation (London: Faber Music, 1978).

Victor Coehlo, “The Reputation of Francesco da Milano (1497-1543) and the Ricercars in the ‘Cavalcanti Lute Book,’” Revue belge de Musicologie 50 (1996): 49–72.

John Griffiths, “On Playing the Fantasia,” Early Music New Zealand, 3, No. 1 (March 1987): 3–17.

________, “Mudarra’s Harp Fantasia: History and Analysis,” AGJ (1989): 19–25.

Charles Jacobs, “Ornamentation in Spanish Renaissance Vocal Music,” Performance Practice Review, 4 no. 2 (Fall 1991): 116–85.

Nigel North, “Playing with Patterns: 16th-century Divisions on the Lute, a Guide for the 21st-century Student,” Lute News 144 (December 2022): 15–21.

Franco Pavan, “The Compositions of Francesco da Milano in the Castelfranco Veneto Manuscript: Further Considerations,” Academia.edu, https://www.academia.edu/5491736/THE_COMPOSITIONS_OF_FRANCESCO_DA_MILANO_IN_THE_CASTELFRANCO_VENETO_MANUSCRIPT_FURTHER_CONSIDERATIONS

Martin Shepherd, “The Interpretation of Signs for Graces in English Lute Music,” The Lute xxxvi (1996): 37–84.

William J. Walker, “The Fantasies of John Dowland: An Analysis,” M.M. thesis, North Texas State University, 1986.

Early Music Sources: https://earlymusicsources.com/

John Griffiths Vihuela Database: https://vihuelagriffiths.com/

The Lute Society: https://www.lutesociety.org/

Luteweb: https://luteweb.com/

Guitar Loot (Ancient Manuscripts Plundered): https://guitarloot.org.uk/

The LuteShop Blog: https://luteshop.co.uk/blog/

Music for Lute Instruments: A Database by Peter Steur and Marcus Lutz: https://mss.slweiss.de/index.php?lang=eng

Accessible Lute Music: https://www.lutemusic.org/

Music for the Lute, Guitar, and Vihuela (1470–1899), Nicholas Erneston Music Library: https://music.library.appstate.edu/lute

Casey Fitzpatrick Lute Facsimiles: https://www.caseyfitzpatrick.com/lute-facsimilies

Narváez’s “Canción del Emperador”

(Score with Lyrics)

As you learn Luis de Narváez’s “Canción del Emperador” (Mille Regretz) it will be helpful to consult the original melody and lyrics and align them with Narváez’s version. This will allow you to see what changes he made with his divisions and adjust your performance accordingly.

Click here to download the score of Narvaez’s Cancion with the original chanson melody and lyrics

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