Charles Mouton

Charles Mouton by François de Troy, Paris, 1690

Charles Mouton (c. 1626 – 1710) was a famous French lutenist and lute composer.

There is only little information known about him. He was born probably in Rouen, studied probably with Denis Gaultier and early in his career, he worked at the court of the dukes of Savoy in Turin. In the 1660s, he taught lute to Paris nobles. He returned to Turin in 1676, then to Paris in 1678 and around 1680, he published two books of lute pieces (Pièces de luth sur différents modes), of which only one copy exists. According to the catalog of the music publisher Estienne Roger (Amsterdam, 1716), there were four books. There are also other pieces scattered in various manuscripts, together totaling more than 120 pieces.