Orbus Ille Germanus : The Art of the German Lute in the 15th Century

Description

With Orbus ille Germanus: The Art of the German Lute in the 15th Century, lutenist Esteban La Rotta explores the emergence of polyphonic lute playing in the late Middle Ages. Inspired by a famous description by the theorist Johannes Tinctoris of a mysterious “ blind German,” this album delves into an instrumental tradition in which certain musicians were able to produce multiple voices simultaneously on the lute. This moment marks a decisive turning point in the instrument’s history, as it transitions from a primarily melodic role to a rich and expressive polyphonic language.

Based on major 15th-century sources such as the Buxheimer Orgelbuch, the Lochamer Liederbuch, and the Wolfenbüttel tablature fragments, Esteban La Rotta offers a vibrant reinterpretation of this repertoire. Some pieces are adapted for the lute from keyboard works, while others take the form of intabulations or new arrangements based on historical tenor lines. Through this approach, which is both musicological and creative, the album seeks to convey what the sound of the German lute might have been like at the end of the 15th century.