The lute played a central role in the music of the 16th and a greater part of the 17th centuries. Whereas the organ occupied a leading position in the realm of church music, the lute was the most important solo instrument for secular music written at that time. Leaving the organ out of discussion, the lute was the most prestigious of 16th century instruments, eventually eclipsed in popularity and use by the harpsichord at the end of the 17th century. Nicolas Vallet, a Frenchman who lived in Amsterdam proclaimed it "the lute, rightfully called the King of all lnstruments."
Lute-players during the 16th and 17th centuries fell into two categories. The first one was occupied by well-to-do amateurs who look to lute playing as an elegant hobby; and professional lute players occupied the second place, sharing their middle-class status with other craftsmen, like painters and furniture makers.
The lute repertory of the 16th and 17th centuries covers a broad area of musical farms including:
Arrangements of secular and nonsecular songs from all West European countries either written for lute solo or with lute accompaniment.
Arrangements of existing dances and new compositions for dances, such as: pavanes, gaillardes, passemezzi and allemandes.
Arrangements and imitations of polyphonic instrumental music: fantasies and ricercares.
Programmatic compositions such as portrayals of pitched battles (batailles) and carillon ringing (carillons).
Compositions usually referred to as preludes intended to show the instrument in all its technical glory.
This rich selection of lute music composed in The Netherlands includes the composers Sweelinck, Adriaensen, Van Den Hove, Huwet, Valerius and Vallet.
Played by one of the most distinguished lutenists of this time, Toyohiko Satoh.
Reissue of a 1990 recording, originally issued on the NM Classics label.
