Robert de Visee (1655-1733) was a French lutenist, guitarist, and composer who worked as a chamber musician to Louis XIV, often playing lute or guitar...

Robert de Visee (1655-1733) was a French lutenist, guitarist, and composer who worked as a chamber musician to Louis XIV, often playing lute or guitar at the king's bedside. This collection of suites was published in Paris in 1716, the recording project of which, helmed by recorder player Manuel Starpoli, is completed in this volume. Manuel Staropoli thoughtfully performs on an array of eight different instruments throughout, each tailored in tessitura and tone color to the particular dance being performed, and is accompanied by an authentic continuo ensemble of the orbo, viola da gamba, and harpsichord. Starpoli's performance particularly highlights de Visee's gift for the composition of tunes of simple beauty, which is made clear in the performance of one suite entirely with solo flute.