Nigel North is considered the world’s foremost authority on the lute. I’ve already written about him back in 2022, when he was playing the theorbe in pieces by De Visée. Here he is back on his own instrument, playing French suites of the 17th century.
This record is from very early in North’s career, but he already shows his considerable talent. These French suites are originally dances, but by the 17th century the form is used to convey more poetic and nostalgic feelings. Not much is left of the dances, except for there the name and some reminders in the rhythm.