Suite B

Robert de Visée (c.1655 – 1732) was a French lutenist, guitarist, and Court musician for both Louis XIV and Louis XV.

Suite H-Moll is also known as Suite No. 11 in B Minor. It is written in 5 movements: Prélude – Allemande – Sarabande – Gigue – Passacaille. First published in the 1680s, it was almost certainly written when de Visée was already a respected musician at Versailles, and was probably performed in front of the Kings on many occasions.

De Visée would have used a 5 string Baroque Guitar. It has been arranged for the modern 6 string instrument by the noted Guitar arranger and virtuosoKarl Scheit.