The Renaissance guitar sits somewhere between the lute and the modern guitar. Unlike the lute, which had a bowl-shaped body, the Renaissance guitar is flat. Its body has a vague hourglass shape, like a modern guitar.
The lute had a neck that held the tuning pegs at a 90-degree angle. The Renaissance guitar's neck is straight, like a modern instrument. One of the biggest differences was the arrangement of strings.
Lutes had pairs of strings, called courses, with a single string for the highest pitches. Renaissance lutes typically had 8-10 courses (17-21 strings total). The Renaissance guitar had but four courses (9 strings total).
Different string arrangements meant different playing techniques. Brayssing understood his instrument well. His music is a compendium of playing techniques that take full advantage of the guitar.
Fedrico Rossignoli is a specialist in Renaissance guitar and cittern. His playing is here is flawless. There's no sliding from note to note -- each plucked with precision. His runs are pristine.
The Renaissance guitar sounds like a lute but with a slightly more robust resonance. And Rossignoli plays . He doesn't pluck the strings delicately, but strength, letting them ring.
Yes. This is a recording of incredibly obscure music by an unknown composer for an esoteric instrument. None of that matters. We have the music. This instrument playing these compositions is a beautiful sound. A sound that anyone can enjoy.
Gregoire Brayssing: Complete Music for Renaissance Guitar
Federico Rossignoli, Renaissance guitar
Brilliant Classics 96448
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