Bernhard Hofstötter, Lute

Works by Anonymous, Dowland, de Sermisy, Sandrin, Pacoloni, de Berchem, Dalza, Jannequin und Bakfark (Premiere Recordings)

In 1937, a Viennese antiquarian sells a comprehensive lute tablature, which then ends up in Lviv in today‘s Ukraine. For decades, the tablature is out of reach and subject to wild speculation.
Today, it once again reveals European Renaissance masterpieces, presented here on this CD as World Premiere Recording, finest played by Lutenist Bernhard Hofstoetter.

Hofstoetter’s lute playing has been described as “adeptly combining technical ease with a masterful sense of phrasing" (Lute Society of America) and demonstrating “a refined rhythmic sensibility and understanding” (International Record Review).

The recordings on this CD offer the spectacular opportunity to take a look into the workshops of the lutenists in the Polish-Lithuanian region in the 16th century. The Cracow Lute Tablature is a comprehensive manuscript with a wide variety of handwritten entries: In addition to lute pieces in French tablature on printed staves, there are 29 Latin aphorisms, graphic patterns and ornaments, 21 depictions of hands, practical commentary regarding performance, as well as Polish poetry, some of which has been written on sheets without staves. Besides two lost sources, namely the Lautentabulatur Mychel Yndern (about 1536) and the Lautenstammbuch des Burggrafen Achatius zu Dohna (1550–1552), the manuscript is the only lute tablature manuscript from the Polish-Lithuanian region. Its earliest entries probably originated around 1550, although the practices used point to the early 16th century. The times of origin of the different parts of the manuscript range from before 1553 to the early 17th century. At least five authors were involved in its production over time. [...]
(Extract of the CD Booklet)

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