Singing to the lute in the early 16th century

Abstract

This study focuses on the art of self-accompanied song in the first half of the 16th century, by firstly examining settings of public and private performances of secular and sacred music in French and Italian courts as well as surviving accounts of singing instrumentalists from Italy and Spain, and repertoire for voice and lute found in French, Italian or Spanish sources. Secondly, this study explores didactical sources, such as instructions for lute, vihuela, recorder or viol, or music theory and composition. The third part of the study concentrates on the process of creating progressive material to guide the lutenist to sing to their instrument, based on the historical sources and the repertoire studied in the first two parts.