Courante (Robert Ballard)

"Courante"
Music by Robert Ballard (c1575 - 1649)
Original for lute
According to Grove's Online, Robert Ballard was a lutenist and composer in the French court and the personal lute instructor of the young Louis XIII.

This is one incredibly strange piece of music (my words; not Groves). The uneven phrase lengths, hemiolas, syncopations and unusually modern-sounding (to me) harmonic interludes just blow my mind. Surely Ballard had turned on the alternating courante full blast for this one.

Thing is, however, I might be playing this ALL wrong. I have no recorded versions to reference and inform and inspire. Those of you who've studied this kind of thing will know what I mean when I tell you that French baroque and renaissance music is not to be played like ANY OTHER MUSIC you ever heard. :D
Truly a style apart.

So anyhow this is my stab at it.

I got this from the great John Renbourn book entitled "Mel Bay's Complete Anthology of Medieval & Renaissance Music for Guitar". Apparently this book is no longer in print, but you should be able to find used copies or a copy still available at finer music shops. (wow, I sound like an advert)

Oh, and I'll remember to shave next time.

Taylor NS54-CE, hybrid classical

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Robert
• Ballard
• French
• renaissance
• lute
• classical
• John
• Renbourn
• guitar
• fingerpicking
• troubleclef
• fingerstyle

[Mattmahe]

Wow, I don't know if you play it in the right "French baroque and Renaissance" way, but still, it's just beautifull, bravo!

[troubleclef]

yeah, it's a style i don't know much about. thanks. i think the piece is strong enough to stand in a 'freestyle' version like this.

[laurap19]

this is not the "Courante" I was looking for...beautiful anyways:)

[troubleclef]

yes, i think there's a better known Ballard Courante.  Was it a Robert Ballard composition you were looking for?

[Captainjjb]

wonderful, many thanks. Please more Robert Ballard if there is any more!

[troubleclef]

thanks. yeah, there's a lot more Robert Ballard. Check out user "luthval". He plays a lot of Ballard.

[robinpayneguitar]

can't wait to learn this. i've got to get through "Bransle Gay", the two "Salterellos" and "Trotto" first though. I have a list going....beautifully played as usual!

[dosergiobr]

Guitar is an amazing instrument: cheap, small, light to carry and can give moments of joy everywhere

[hermx0]

Tremendous piece! Well done! It surely is strong enough... :)

[film3973]

I love it...

[leopower7]

niceee

[KongeSize]

Very beautiful! I got to get me a guitar asap. :D

[SingHouse]

lol uube

[davethebrush1968]

omh uube is such a wonderful resource of early music