Gottfried Meusel (1688-1728) was the town of Gotha’s court lutenist. Ernst Baron, who assumed the post at Gotha after Meusel’s untimely death, wrote about Meusel in his 1727 history of the lute, describing him as one of the first to really master the new cantabile style.

Daniel Swenberg, baroque lute
Taya Tarasevich König, baroque flute
Oliver Weston, viola da gamba
Charles Weaver, theorbo

Mr. Jones & the Engines of Destruction: In 1605 famed-English architect Inigo Jones brought the newly-developed Theorbo from Italy into England. At Dover, customs impounded the instrument fearing it was some engine from the popish lands brought to destroy the king. This group emphasizes fun, lascivious, nerdy, and dramatic programs and features rarely heard ensembles for the lute family. Programs about Economics and History are the core of the group’s mission, including an upcoming CD release about the 1720 South Sea Stock Bubble. Other programs champion lesser-known ensembles featuring lutes and guitars.