Tastar de Corde & Ricercar by Joan Ambrosio Dalza (fl. 1508) performed by Jeffrey Noonan

Director of Early Music Missouri, Jeff Noonan, was asked recently to make some short “show & tell” videos about the lute for a music appreciation class. Perhaps some of our fans will enjoy them.
Joan Ambrosio Dalza was a lutenist active at the end of the 15th century and in the early years of the 16th century. We know next to nothing about his life or career. Although he may well have been from Milan, Dalza worked closely with Petrucci in Venice and edited Petrucci’s Intabolatura de lauto libro quarto (Venice, 1508), one of the earliest printed collections of lute music. The two pieces on this video are from this book and offer a peek at some of Dalza’s contributions to lute literature. The title tastar de corde refers to “touching the string” and served as a sort of tuning piece. The ricecar reflects a tradition of improvisation in which a player “searches out” musical themes and ideas.
Jeff is playing a seven-course lute built by Jason Petty.