he lute began its march across Europe as early as the 15th century, but it finally attained status as “queen of instruments” in the following century, inspiring renowned virtuosos in every European country of the time.
2025 marks the 525th anniversary of the birth of Luys Milán, the Spanish master of the lute and vihuela; meanwhile, it’s also the 500th year of Vincenzo Galilei, lutenist and father of the even more famous Galileo Galilei. It is reason enough for a second edition of our “lute parcours”, in which audience members journey through multiple mini-concerts, staged in the rooms of a historical Basel mansion.
* Please note that the Haus zum Kirschgarten is not barrier free and does not have an elevator. Some stations of the parcours are on the upper levels and are only accessible by stairs.
UPDATE 27 March: Tickets have been sold out! In the event of cancellation, some free seats may still become available. Please contact info@rerenaissance.ch if you end up not needing your ticket.
Julian Behr – lute
Xavier Díaz-Latorre – vihuela
Orí Harmelin – lute
Marc Lewon – lute; organisation
Haus zum Kirschgarten
Elisabethenstrasse 27, Basel
Horizontale Sonnenuhr in Lautenform
by David Fallows
On the face of it, this is just three short lute recitals. But on a closer look there is much that is new.
First, it all happens in the Haus zum Kirschgarten – a museum that I have never yet visited, despite all the years that I have been living basically in Basel.
Second, one of the recitals is of music from the lutebooks of Wolff Heckel: two books published simultaneously in 1556 (and all reprinted six years later) with no fewer than forty works for two lutes. I have known about this repertory for years and even used it for my edition of Josquin’s four-voice songs, but to this day I have not heard a note of the music, so that will be a special thrill for me (and I may perhaps cheat a little and hear that concert more than once to treasure the event).
Third, we celebrate 500 years from the birth of Vincenzo Galilei, one of the most deeply loved of all Italian lute composers. Fourth, we welcome the new lute professor at the Schola Cantorum, Xavier Díaz-Latorre, playing a programme of Spanish vihuela music, including works by Luys Milán, Narváez and (my own favourite) Mudarra. Absolutely not to be missed.
«Duos aus dem Hause Heckel», Julian Behr & Marc Lewon; Programm Erdgeschoss
Quelle: Wolff Heckel (c1515–1562): Lautten Bůch von mancherley schönen vnd lieblichen stucken mit zweyen Lautten zů samen zuschlagen […], Strassburg: Urban Wyss, 1556 Alle Editionen: Marc Lewon
Die mit * markierten Stücke finden sich auch im Tenorstimmbuch des Lautenduo-Drucks von Hans Jacob Wecker: Lautenbůch vonn mancherley schönen vnd lieblichen stucken mitt zweyen lauten zůsamen zů schlagen, Basel: Ludwig Lück, 1552
«Libro de Retratos Verdaderos» – Das Buch der wahren Porträts, Xavier Díaz-Latorre; Programm 1. Etage
DAS ERSTE PORTRÄT
Luys Milán (c1500–c1561): Libro de Música de vihuela de mano. Intitulado El maestro, Valencia: Francisco Díaz Romano, 1536
DAS ZWEITE PORTRÄT
Luis de Narváez (c1500–nach 1549): Los seys libros del Delphín de música, Valladolid: Diego Hernãdez de Cordova, 1538
DAS DRITTE PORTRÄT
Alonso Mudarra (c1510–1580): Tres libros de música en cifras para vihuela, Sevilla: Juan de León, 1546
7. Diferencias über die Romanesca: O guárdame las vacas – Mudarra: Tres libros, fol. 17r–18r & Improvisation über die Portugiesische Folia: Não tragais borzeguis pretos
«Eppur si muove» … und sie bewegt sich doch!, Orí Harmelin; Programm 2. Etage
Quelle: Vincenzo Galilei (1520–1591): Fronimo Dialogo […] nel quale si contengono le vere et necessarie regole del Intavolare la Musica nel Liuto, Venedig: Girolamo Scotto, 1584
Barfüsserkirche
Historical Museum Basel
Barfüsserkirche
Historical Museum Basel
Basel, Martinskirche
