The lute was a central instrument in the renaissance and the baroque era. It was leading in the changes of musical style and an instrument that you referred to naturally, much like the piano during the 19th century. To have some proficiency on the lute was a requirement for a cultivated person, but there were also a great number of professional luteplayers travelling and working for different patrons.
All these lutenists have left a rich repertory that streches from the ricercars of the early 16th century with medieval roots over the refined polyphony of the high renaissance to the different national styles of the baroque. There is a large difference between the impulsive and improvisatory music for theorbo (the large bass lute of the baroque) and the very poetic french baroque lute music from the same period. The wide scope of the lute music and the variations of sonority of the instruments makes it easy to compose varied and interesting programs.
Sven Åberg is one of Sweden's most renowned lutenists. He specialises foremost in music of the Renaissance and the Baroque and masters a range of instruments, including the renaissance lute, baroque lute, baroque guitar, theorbo, vihuela and other plucked string instruments from the period. Besides his soloist work he is also an accomplished basso continuo player, and performs regularly in concerts and recordings with many of the first rate baroque groups in Sweden, for example the Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble, Drottningholm Court Theatre Orchestra and La Recreation. He has also worked as musical director for baroque opera and concert projects.
Apart from Baroque and Renaissance music, Sven Åberg has performed Swedish folkmusic, contemporary music, free improvisation and Argentinian tango. He has also composed new pieces for baroque instruments and made musical arrangements for various recordings. Some of the labels he has recorded on are EAR, Prophone, Daphne, Proprius, Alice, Musica Sveciæ, Caprice, BIS, Drone and Swedish Society Discophil. Sven Åberg also teaches lute and chamber music at the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm.
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Contact:
sven.aberg@kmh.se
Sven Åberg
renaissance lute
baroque lute
theorbo
baroque guitar
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