Paul O’Dette – Rippe: Works for lute ‘Un perfaict sonneur de Leut’ (2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

Paul O'Dette - Rippe: Works for lute 'Un perfaict sonneur de Leut' (2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz] Download

As refined as it is technically challenging, the lute music of Albert de Rippe (né Alberto da Ripa) is notable for its lush palette and dense brilliance -illustrated by the miniature masterpieces heard here: fantasias, chanson intabulations and dance arrangements (the three most popular genres of the Renaissance repertoire), which in the hands of Paul O’Dette become marvellously expressive and poetic.

Do you know Albert de Rippe or Alberto da Ripa, Alberto da Mantova, or indeed Alberto Mantovano? Thanks to the new album from lutenist Paul O’Dette recorded in Quebec in 2016, we have become acquainted with one of the most important lute players and composers of the Renaissance. Born around 1500 in Mantua or in… Ripa (currently Riva di Suzzara), at a very young age he entered the service of the King of France François I, along with a number of other Italian artists including Leonardo da Vinci. The King granted him lands in the Dombes and sums of money besides. This royal recognition is surely testament to the exceptional quality of the work of the Italian composer, who had written many “fantasies”, but also arrangements for songs which were then in vogue, and several dances. Rippe also probably refused to have his works be published, preferring to keep them for himself: so they have survived to the present day only through copies made by his student Guilliaume Morlaye.

Rippe’s music is richly expressive and rounded off by a very accomplished writing technique, which produces rich and full sounds. Not content with 3-note chords, as most of his contemporaries were, Rippe explores his instrument with rich harmonic combinations of 5 or 6 notes, to imitate the luxuriant sound of a large choir. A passionate fan of Rippe’s music, Paul O’Dette wanted to present the widest possible range from the repertoire of those times, ending his record with a stunning piece, La Séraphine. The identity of the writer isn’t known precisely, but there are good reasons to believe that it is the master himself. – François Hudry

Tracklist:

1. Paul O’Dette – Fantasie XIX (03:29)
2. Paul O’Dette – Pavane “La Romanesque” (02:40)
3. Paul O’Dette – Gaillarde “La Milanoise” (01:22)
4. Paul O’Dette – Fantasie III (04:26)
5. Paul O’Dette – Douce mémoire (03:50)
6. Paul O’Dette – On en dira ce qu’on voudra (01:45)
7. Paul O’Dette – Fantasie II (04:21)
8. Paul O’Dette – O passi sparsi (04:59)
9. Paul O’Dette – Pavane I (01:32)
10. Paul O’Dette – Galliarde I (01:21)
11. Paul O’Dette – Fantasie VIII (03:10)
12. Paul O’Dette – L’eccho [Dieu qui conduis] (03:17)
13. Paul O’Dette – Galliarde II (01:23)
14. Paul O’Dette – Fantasie IX (05:35)
15. Paul O’Dette – Or vien ça vien mamie Perrette (01:58)
16. Paul O’Dette – Fantasie I de Guyterne (04:23)
17. Paul O’Dette – Pavane II (02:57)
18. Paul O’Dette – Galliarde III (01:54)
19. Paul O’Dette – Fantasie XXII (04:54)
20. Paul O’Dette – Martin menoit (02:32)
21. Paul O’Dette – Fantasie V (02:44)
22. Paul O’Dette – Galliarde IV (01:05)
23. Paul O’Dette – Gaillarde Piemontoise (00:58)
24. Paul O’Dette – Fantasie II “de Guyterne” (04:11)
25. Paul O’Dette – La Seraphine (04:56)