Nicolas Vallet (also Valet; c. 1583 – c. 1642) was a French lutenist and composer who emigrated to the Dutch Republic.

Vallet, a Huguenot, was born at Corbeny, Aisne, but fled around 1613 from France to the Netherlands for unknown reasons. In Amsterdam he worked as a self-supporting musician, lute teacher, and as the owner of a dance school.

Nicolas Vallet

His primary work, Le Secret des Muses, contains compositions and instruction for the 10-course Renaissance lute. It was published in two parts in 1615 and 1616. It was among the last compositions to appear for this instrument, before it was supplanted by the Baroque lute.

Nicolas Vallet

He also wrote a Psalms of David (in 1615) and Regia Pietas (in 1622).

Nicolas Vallet

According to Frederick Neumann, Vallet may have been among the first to introduce ornaments to the lute tablature.

References

1580s births

1640s deaths

17th-century classical composers

French Baroque composers

Dutch male classical composers

Dutch classical composers

Dutch lutenists

French lutenists

French classical composers

French male classical composers

People from Aisne

17th-century male musicians