This gigue is part of the Kalmar Stahlhammer MS (S-Klm ms 21072) and it is a puzzle. It belongs to a classic duet suite of 4 pieces: Allemande, Courante, Sarabande and Gigue. Less classically, it uses an unusual tuning::   (A-d-f#-a-c#'-e')  [dedef], identical for both instruments. Each duet piece in the manuscript consists of the partie - on the verso of the folio - and the contrepartie - on the recto of the next folio. So there is no risk of confusion: we know where to find the contrepartie - which is not always the case with Baroque lute duets.  Additionally, the manuscript contains another duet suite, in regular D minor tuning this time, preceding the non-standard tuning one.  

So far, so good: the D minor duet suite pieces and the non-standard tuning allemande, courante and sarabande parties and contreparties fit  well together. Not so for the gigue!! It seems to be a completely different pieces, with only half the number of bars, and definite harmonic clashes. So should our precious gigue duet  be thrown away in the dustbin of bad historical mistakes?

But yet: why should only that one piece be so different from the preceding ones? Why does the contrepartie consist of 26 bars, like the second part of the partie? Why does it start with a C sharp major chord in a generally B minor key? Why would the contrepartie NOT belong to the partie, since the tuning is so different from much else in the MS? We could understand a simple mistake for a D-minor standard tuning contrepartie, but there were not so many pieces using that experimental tuning, thus limiting the possibility of error. However, one must take into account the presence of solo pieces using that tuning in the same MS: for instance, two pieces by Pinel, an Allemande and courante, and several others. (See Marlus Lutz's and Peter Steur's description of the manuscript.)

Did the scribe get very tired at the end of a long winter night? Could it be a scribal joke meant for future academic scholars??? 

If you crack this problem and figure out the solution, you will well deserve the title of Lute sleuth of the year. So get to it and restore this - probably beautiful - duet to its pristine grandeur! Only YOU can do it!

Note: the complete two Kalmar duet suites are avalaible as a Fandango collection here .