Luis de Briceño explained

Luis de Briceño (also Briçeño, Brizeño;^[1] fl. 1610s–1630s) was a Spanish guitarist and music theorist who introduced the Spanish guitar style in France, where previously only the lute was considered a serious plucked instrument. He travelled in high courtly circles in both countries, and is first cited as an authority on the Spanish guitar in 1614.^[2] His Metodo mui facilissimo para aprender a tañer la guitarra a lo español (1626, Very Easy Method to Learn to Play the Guitar in the Spanish Style) is the main source of knowledge of the Spanish style,^[3] since few books appeared during this period in Spain itself.^[4]

His own transcriptions include villanos, villancicos, pasacalles, tonos frances, españoletas, romances, folías, seguidillas and a "Danza de la Hacha". A selection were recorded by Le Poème Harmonique, directed by Vincent Dumestre, for Alpha/Outhere in 2011.

Links

Digital copy of "Metodo mui facilissimo..." at National Library in Francehttps://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1168966d.image

Notes and References

1. Hudson . Barton . Hall . Monica . Luis de Briçeño. amp.
2. The Guitar and Its Music: From the Renaissance to the Classical Era - Page 100 James Tyler, Paul Sparks - 2007 "Briceño (dates unknown) evidently travelled in high courtly circles in both countries. He is first cited in connection with a book written in Spanish by 'Le Sieur de Moulere' for Louis XIII that was published in Paris in 1614"
3. Concise History of the Classic Guitar - Page 33 Graham Wade - 2001 "Luis de Briceño's Guitar Method - Luis de Briceño's Metodo muy facilissimo para aprender a taner la Guitarra a lo Espanol (Very Easy Method to Learn to Play the Guitar in the Spanish Style) (Paris, 1626) was the only Spanish guitar book ..."
4. The Guitar from the Renaissance to the Present Day - Page 56 Harvey Turnbull - 1992 "We have met one Spaniard whose work appeared early in the century, but outside Spain - Luis de Briceño. Within the country sources are few. One collection, unfortunately undated, in Musica de vihuela by Antonio de Santa Cruz."