Desmond Dupré
Encyclopedia
Desmond Dupré was an English lutenist and a prominent figure in the 20th century revival of early music
. He was known particularly for his recordings on lute
and viola da gamba, notably with counter-tenor Alfred Deller
.
Dupré studied at the Royal College of Music
from 1946, studying cello
with Ivor James and harmony with Herbert Howells
. He became interested in the viol
, and taught himself this instrument. His first professional engagements were as a guitarist and cellist, playing with the Boyd Neel Orchestra.
In 1950, he made his first of many recordings with Alfred Deller, accompanying him on the guitar.
Like Deller, Dupré was much interested in a more authentic style of performance. Instead of continuing to play lute repertoire on the guitar, he taught himself the lute, and his subsequent performances with Deller were predominantly on that instrument, including his 1951 Wigmore Hall
debut.
He was a regular performer with many leading early music groups, including the Julian Bream
Consort, the Jacobean Consort of Viols, and Musica Reservata. He recorded Bach
's sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord with Thurston Dart
, and Dart reconstructed a Handel
concerto for lute and harp, which Dupré premiered.
Dupré was the first president of the Lute Society, a post he held from 1956 to 1973.
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
. He was known particularly for his recordings on lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
and viola da gamba, notably with counter-tenor Alfred Deller
Alfred Deller
Alfred George Deller CBE , was an English singer and one of the main figures in popularizing the return of the countertenor voice in Renaissance and Baroque music during the 20th Century....
.
Dupré studied at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
from 1946, studying cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
with Ivor James and harmony with Herbert Howells
Herbert Howells
Herbert Norman Howells CH was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.-Life:...
. He became interested in the viol
Viol
The viol is any one of a family of bowed, fretted and stringed musical instruments developed in the mid-late 15th century and used primarily in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The family is related to and descends primarily from the Renaissance vihuela, a plucked instrument that preceded the...
, and taught himself this instrument. His first professional engagements were as a guitarist and cellist, playing with the Boyd Neel Orchestra.
In 1950, he made his first of many recordings with Alfred Deller, accompanying him on the guitar.
Like Deller, Dupré was much interested in a more authentic style of performance. Instead of continuing to play lute repertoire on the guitar, he taught himself the lute, and his subsequent performances with Deller were predominantly on that instrument, including his 1951 Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
debut.
He was a regular performer with many leading early music groups, including the Julian Bream
Julian Bream
Julian Bream, CBE is an English classical guitarist and lutenist and is one of the most distinguished classical guitarists of the 20th century. He has also been successful in renewing popular interest in the Renaissance lute....
Consort, the Jacobean Consort of Viols, and Musica Reservata. He recorded Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
's sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord with Thurston Dart
Thurston Dart
Robert Thurston Dart , was a British musicologist, conductor and keyboard player. From 1964 he was Professor of Music at King's College London....
, and Dart reconstructed a Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
concerto for lute and harp, which Dupré premiered.
Dupré was the first president of the Lute Society, a post he held from 1956 to 1973.
Partial discography
- Bach - The Three Viola da Gamba Sonatas (L'Oiseau-Lyre LPLP albumThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
OLS 157, 1958)