Prelude D minor

Denis (?) Gaultier

6=D 1575-1621

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& b œœ œ # œ
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) 3

œ 1

œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ # œ4
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III n œ
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3 4 3
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3

Aœ )œ œ n œ
œ 2
1 œ Nœ œ
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&b
5

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)

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& b œ) œ #œ ˙˙
7

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transcribed for guitar by Tim Brace, Austin Texas, 2019
More scores at www.magnoliaaarts.com

Notes:
1. The ornaments are from the score as published. Parenthesis on the right of the note indicates ornament
from above the note. I have included all the ornaments from the score; the ornament above the B-flat in the
early part of the second line is difficult and disruptive to the flow on guitar, so it's fine to leave that one out.
Add any other ornaments where you want, but this is French style, so don't overdo the ornaments by adding
too many or making them too flamboyant. This music is gentle, sensual, subtle.
2. This is an unmeasured prelude, so there are no bar lines, and everything is written as if it's an eighth
note. You have to find your way through this and look for patterns and places to lengthen or shorten
notes to express your ideas. Youtube has a couple of performances online if you want to here someone
else's interpretation. There's quite a bit of room for individual expression here; have fun with it!
3. There is no tempo indication, but it should be slow and relaxed, but maintain forward motion.
4. About 2/3 through the second line there is an E (after the A#) that I raise an octave when playing, due
to the need for fingering to keep the flow going (and my increasingly limited guitar technique). This
octave displacement is consistent with others that Gaultier wrote throughout, so I don't believe that it violates
the sense of the piece, and fits nicely with the internal line.

Original: Livre de Tablature des Pieces de Luth. This manuscript contains pieces by Ennemond and by his cousin
Denis Gaultier. I'm assuming this is by Denis, as the pieces by Ennemond are marked "Le Vieux Gaultier"
(Ennemond) and the others are marked "Mr. Gaultier".