Robert de Visée (c. 1655 – 1732/1733) was a French lutenist, guitarist, theorbist and viol player at the court of the kings Louis XIV and Louis XV, as well as a singer and composer for lute, theorbo and guitar.
Biography
Robert de Visée's place and date of birth are unknown. He probably knew Francesco Corbetta and would have been familiar with his music. claimed that he studied with Corbetta and this information has been repeated uncritically in later sources including Strizich and Ledbetter 2001. It is however unsupported by any documentary evidence . He is first mentioned (by Le Gallois) in 1680, and at about that time became a chamber musician to Louis XIV, in which capacity he often performed at court. In 1709 he was appointed as a singer in the royal chamber, and in 1719 he was named 'Guitar Master of the King' (Maître de Guitare du Roi) to Louis XV, the ten-year-old great-grandson of Louis XIV who succeeded to the throne in 1715. Jean Rousseau reported in a letter of 1688 that Visée was a respected musician at Versailles, and also played the viol . The last payment in his name in state documents is dated 1732. It is to be assumed that he died about that time. ()
Works
Visée published two books of guitar music that contain twelve suites between them, as well as a few separate pieces: Livre de guitare dédié au roi (Paris, 1682) and Livre de pièces pour la guitare (Paris, 1686). He also published a collection of pieces for the theorbo and lute: Pièces de théorbe et de luth (Paris, 1716); these are in staff notation rather than tablature and may also be performed as ensemble pieces. The contents of all three books are tabulated with incipits and concordances in . He composed many other pieces for theorbo and Baroque lute (the bulk of which are preserved in the Saizenay Ms.).
Complete list of de Visée's pieces for the guitar: 1682 Livre de Guitarre, dédie au roi: Suite No. 1 in A Minor: Prélude – Allemande – Courante – Sarabande – Gigue – Passacaille – Gavotte – Gavotte – Bourrée Suite No. 2 in A Major: Allemande – Courante – Sarabande Suite No. 3 in D Minor: Prélude – Allemande – Courante – Courante – Sarabande – Sarabande – Gigue – Passacaille – Gavotte – Gavotte – Menuet Rondeau – Menuet Rondeau – Bourrée Suite No. 4 in G Minor: Prélude – Allemande – Courante – Double de la Courante – Sarabande – Gigue – Menuet – Gavotte Suite No. 5 in G Major: Sarabande – Sarabande – Gigue Suite No. 6 in C Minor: Prélude – Tombeau de Mr. Francisque Corbet – Courante – Sarabande – Sarabande en Rondeau – Gavotte Suite No. 7 in C Major: Prélude – Allemande – Courante – Sarabande – Gigue, a la Maniere Angloise – Gavotte – Menuet Chaconne (F Major) Suite No. 8 in G Major: Prélude – (Accord Nouveau) – Allemande – Courante – Sarabande – Gigue – Sarabande – Chaconne – Gavotte – Menuet – Bourrée 1686 Livre de Pieces pour la Guitarre: Suite No. 9 in D Minor: Prélude – Allemande – Courante – Sarabande – Gigue – Gavotte – Bourrée – Menuet – Passacaille – Menuet Suite No. 10 in G Minor: Prélude – Allemande – Courante – Sarabande – Gigue – Menuet – Chaconne – Gavotte – Bourrée – Menuet Sarabande (A Minor) Gigue (A Minor) Sarabande (A Major) Menuet (A Major) Suite No. 11 in B Minor: Prélude – Allemande – Sarabande – Gigue – Passacaille Suite No. 12 in E Minor: Sarabande – Menuet – Passacaille Menuet (C Major) Manuscript Pieces: Pieces in A minor Prélude Allemande Villanelle (& Contrepartie) Pieces in A major Prélude Rondeau Pieces in C major Courante Gigue Pieces in D minor Allemande 'La Royalle' Sarabande Masquerade Gigue Gavotte Chaconne Pieces in D major Sarabande Gavotte Chaconne Gavotte Rondeau (& Contrepartie) Pieces in G minor Prélude Prélude Allemande Sarabande Gavotte Gavotte en Rondeau Ouverture de la Grotte De Versaille (de Lully) Entrée d’Appollon (de Lully) Pieces in G major Allemande Courante Sarabande Gigue Gigue Musette (Rondeau)