Paul Beier, an American lutenist, was born in Salt Lake City in 1954 and later settled in Italy. As a teenager he discovered the lute through a Julian Bream guitar recording of Bach’s lute works. In 1973, while studying in Germany, he became convinced of period instruments and switched from guitar to lute. He studied with Diana Poulton at the Royal College of Music, London, earning his lute diploma in 1977. In 1981 he was invited to create a lute course in Milan, where he has lived and taught since.

Beier brought wider attention to the lute music of Michelagnolo Galilei, Galileo’s brother, through a recording devoted to his Primo Libro d’Intavolatura di liuto. His solo discography includes recordings of lute music by Simone Molinaro, Michelagnolo Galilei, and Alessandro Piccinini. He also recorded two volumes of works by J.S. Bach and lute music by Francesco da Milano. In the 1990s he founded the Ensemble Galatea, which he directs, and he is a founding member of the Italian Lute Society.

Sources:

• https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Beier
• https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3370601