Jean-Baptiste Bésard

Jean-Baptiste Besard was a doctor, lawyer and lute player. It is the considered opinion that he was much more of a collector and editor of music than a composer. For example, the "Thesaurus Harmonicus" is a collection of over 400 compositions with fingering tables in the French style for the lute. These works include allemandes, galliards, fantasies, preludes, et al, only a few of which can be ascribed to Besrad himself. This collection was of immense proportional importance indicated by the number of single copies of separate pieces found in other collections. A manual on playing the lute, "De modo in testudine libellus" was an addendum to the Thesaurus and emphasizes diligent practice, luciduty over speed, and posture. The translation of "De modo" into English demonstrates its didactic import. ~ Keith Johnson