Robert de Visée

Guitarist, theorbo and viol player, singer and composer (born ca.1655 – died 1732/33). He may have studied with Corbetta. About 1680 he became a chamber musician to Louis XIV, in which capacity he often performed at court. In 1709 he was appointed a singer in the royal chamber, and in 1719 he formally became guitar teacher to the king. Rousseau stated that he also played the viol at court. With Francesco Corbetta he was the foremost guitar composer of the French Baroque. Visée's two books of guitar music, "Livre di guittarre dédié au roy" (Paris, 1682) and "Livre de piéces pour la guittarre" (Paris 1686), contain twelve suites between them. He also wrote works for Baroque lute and theorbo.