S.L. WEISS (1686-1750)

The Lute's Golden Fleece

Transcribed and Edited for guitar by Jacopo Gianninoto

Published by Assumption University of Thailand

Sylvius Leopold Weiss (1686-1750) was the most renowned lutenist of the XVIII century, and one of the greatest composers and interpreters in the history of Lute.  The considerable number of compositions that he wrote for this instrument – in its version with 11 or 13 courses – is characterized by its "fashionable" style, the technical challenges it poses, and a natural beauty and elegance.
He was born on October 12, 1686 – although some historians opt for 1687 – in Wroclaw (known as Breslau during the reign of King Frederick II the Great of Prussia), Poland, and was a contemporary of J.S. Bach and that generation of great composers:  Vivaldi (1681-1767), Telemann (1683-1764), Rameau (1685-1759), Haendel (1678-1757), Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1762), Geminiani (1687-1762).  He spent most of his life as a chamber musician at the Court of Dresden, where he was the most paid and admired musician.
S.L. Weiss was deemed an unsurpassed virtuoso by his contemporaries.  The records of his performances are characterized by the same awe that Paganini and his violin performances were to receive later. One of these records describes an encounter at the Court of Dresden between S.L. Weiss and J.S. Bach, when the two competed in the improvisation of Fugues: "Anyone who knows how difficult it is to play harmonic modulations and good counterpoints on the lute will be surprised and full of disbelief to hear from eyes-witnesses that Weiss, the great lute-player, challenged J.S. Bach, the great harpsichord and organ-player, by playing fantasies and fugues."  Although no documents support this thesis, some historians contend that the Suites for Lute by J.S. Bach were inspired by Weiss, or even written for him. [...]