PIERRE GUÉDRON (c.1565-c.1620)
Airs de cour
with lute preludes by Robert Ballard, Nicolas Vallet, Elias Mertel & Antoine Francisque

1 Prélude III [Nicolas Vallet (1575-c.1642)]
2 Cessés mortels de soupirer

3 Prélude XIII [Nicolas Vallet]
4 Un jour l’amoureuse Silvie

5 Praeludium 175 [Elias Mertel (c.1560-1626)]
6 Quel espoir de guarir

7 Praeludium 131 [Elias Mertel]
8 Doncques par force

9 Première entrée de luth [Robert Ballard (1575-c.1648)]
10 Soupirs meslés d’amour

11 Prélude VIII [Nicolas Vallet]
12 Je voudrois bien chanter

13 Cinquiesme entrée de luth [Robert Ballard]
14 C’en est fait je ne verray plus
15 Lors que Leandre amoureux

16 Prélude [Antoine Francisque (1570-1605)]
17 Quel excès de douleur

18 Praeludium 109 [Elias Mertel]
19 Aux plaisirs, aux delices bergeres

20 Praeludium 97 [Elias Mertel]
21 En fin le juste Ciel

22 Praeludium 207 [Elias Mertel]
23 Ce penser qui sans fin

24 Praeludium 93 [Elias Mertel]
25 Quand premier je la veis
26 Quoy faut-il donc qu’Amour

27 Praeludium 179 [Elias Mertel]
28 Si jamais mon ame blessée

29 Praeludium 3 [Elias Mertel]
30 Donc ceste merveille des cieux

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About this CD

Glossa is now introducing into its catalogue one of the most sought-after titles from the now defunct Symphonia label and a recording replete with poetry and expertise. The graceful airs de cour of Pierre Guédron – who worked in the courts of the French kings Henri IV and Louis XIII at the beginning of the 17th century – are interspersed here with lute preludes by leading exponents of the instrument at the time, such as Robert Ballard and Nicolas Vallet. Soprano Claudine Ansermet and lutenist Paolo Cherici conjure up a recital of singular beauty which takes us back to the world of those early aristocratic salons, such as that of the Marquise de Rambouillet, one which was known throughout Europe as a centre of the highest order for literature, poetry and music.