Six Lute Pieces of the Renaissance
Popularized by Andrés Segovia, the Six Lute Pieces of the Renaissance are now an enduring part of the classical guitar repertoire. How they got there is a longer and not entirely clear story. This set of six pieces, likely originally intended for lute, has been attributed to Vincenzo Galilei (c. 1520 - 1591), the father of Galileo Galilei and also a composer, lutenist, music theorist, and member of the Florentine Camarata. Fast forward three or so centuries later, and the pieces were found and transcribed for guitar by the nineteenth century Italian musicologist Oscar Chilesotti (1848-1916). In the mid-twentieth century, they were then arranged for guitar by the Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida (1917-1995). In 1956, they were recorded by Andrés Segovia on his album “The Art of Andrés Segovia.”
Having been recorded by Segovia, these pieces became widely performed, and ultimately a part of the core repertory taught and learned by classical guitarists around the world. How Segovia found these pieces is not definitively known; it is possible that one of his colleagues or students made him aware of these works, though this continues to be debated. In any case, Segovia and his followers brought these pieces from relative obscurity to being well-recognized in the classical guitar community, a status they continue to enjoy to this day.
Each of the six pieces has a title in Italian:
No. 1: Moderato. Vaghe belleze et bionde treccie d’oro vedi che per ti moro (O vague, blonde beauty whose golden tresses I see, I would die for you). By an anonymous composer.
No. 2 - Allegro. Bianco fiore (White flower). Likely by Cesare Negri (c.1535–c.1604).
No. 3 - Moderato. Danza (dance). By an anonymous composer.
No. 4 - Andante. Gagliarda (Galliard). By an anonymous composer.
No. 5 - Largo. Se io m’accorgo (If I might become aware). By an anonymous composer.
No. 6 - Presto. Saltarello (to leap or jump). By Vincenzo Galilei.
Resources
Patykula, John. “Treasures from the Past: Chilesotti’s ‘Six Lute Pieces of the Renaissance’ (Guitar Transcription Included).” Classical Guitar Magazine, Stories (no date). https://classicalguitarmagazine.com/treasures-from-the-past-chilesottis-six-lute-pieces-of-the-renaissance-guitar-transcription-included/.
Wade, Graham. Traditions of the Classical Guitar. Overture Publishing, 1980. https://almabooks.com/product/traditions-of-the-classical-guitar/?imprintname=Overture%20Publishing.
Performances: