This Polish lutenist was predominantly active in Paris. Reys was his given name but a number of variations have occurred. He is definitely the same person who went by the name of Jacques le Polonois. Noted for inventing a new method for playing the lute nothing is known about the process. One of the leading lutenists of his time, if not the leading lutenist, Reys' compositions reflect the advent of the major-minor key-related harmonies. Characteristics of his works include dissonances and suspensions at important cadences, sectional structures for galliards, key modulations to related majors and minors and thematic variations in his fantasias. One of two types of courantes was named for Reys. ~ Keith Johnson, All Music Guide