E. Reusner. Neue Lauten-Früchte, 1676

Reusner, Esaias

Neue Lauten-Früchte Allen dieses Instruments Liebhabern zur Ergötzlichkeit, Übung und Nutzen, mit besonderem Fleisse auffgesetzet und verleget, [Berlin:] Reusner, 1676

2 leaves, 30 pages, oblong 8vo (18.3 x 29.2cm), engraved illustrated title and finely engraved lute tablature with many decorative floral ornaments, printed dedication and sonnet to Elector Friedrich Wilhelm, pencil annotation to first page of tablature, old shelfmark to front pastedown ("Math. Fol. 209") and faded library stamp of the Royal Library Berlin on verso of title ("Ex Biblioth. Regia Berolinensi"), woodcut portrait supposedly of Melchior Neusidler and engraved portrait by Stör of Ernst Gottlieb Baron laid down on new front endpaper, Dolmetsch Library stamp and pencil shelfmark ("II C 4") to verso of title, conservator's label (August 2003) to lower pastedown, gilt edges, near-contemporary calf gilt, rebacked, leading edges of first two leaves strengthened, repairs to corners of covers, covers scuffed

EXTREMELY RARE, AND PLAUSIBLY THE DEDICATION COPY TO FRIEDRICH WILHELM, ELECTOR OF BRANDENBURG AND THE PATRON OF REUSNER. We have not traced a copy of this work at auction in modern times. No copy is recorded by RISM in the British Library or in the United States.

This is an excellent copy of one of the two major collections of suites for the lute by the German composer and lutenist Esaias Reusner (the Younger) (1636-1679), considered to have been one of the finest lute virtuosos of his time and one of the first great exponents of the 11-course Baroque lute in Germany. The present work is important as manifesting the first application of French lute style by a German composer, as well as bearing witness to the development of the instrumental suite.

The portrait of Neusidler pasted to the flyleaf is actually of the lutenist Sixtus Kargel, extracted from a copy of Novae, elegantissime, gallicae, item et italicae cantilenae... (Strassburg: Jobin, 1574).

The copy of this work previously in Berlin and now in the Jagiellonian Library in Krakow has a letterpress dedication and sonnet to Princess Dorothea, the wife of the Elector.

LITERATURE:

RISM R 1220; TNG, xxi, p.233