LGS-Europe
Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:27:02 -0800
Rob wrote:
a moot one. Bach did not write his continuo basses for a member of the lute family. <<<Yes, of course, David. That is understood. I was just speculating what one could contribute to a reading of the Art of Music and A Musical Offering, neither of which require continuo support. I would like to play a single line in an ensemble performance, but found it hard to imagine what one would do in such a scenario on a theorbo.
You are right, that was your question. I'm all exited about the Musicall Offering as I am going to play (part of it?) later this year. For the Sonata I will bring the archlute. Good continuo instrument for the bass lines Bach wrote, and, perhaps the best reason for me, I know my way around on the instrument. I don't know if we're going to do any of the canons, but if we do I will use the same instrument for convenience sake, although I have a 78cm 10-course bass lute in d' that also has the speed, the range and the chromatics in the bass. And more punch in single-line bass playing than the archlute. I will not bring my theorbo (in A), as the bass-lines go to high, and use chromatics in the lower register. No gallichon here either, but I am tempted to give the large one in A a try. What about the d'-minor theorbo minus the first string, that Benjamin Narvey wrote about in the LSA Quarterly? Would that cover your needs? I'm also sorely tempted by such a continuo lute for Bach c.s. So many lutes to choose from, never enough in one house ... David **************************** David van Ooijen [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.davidvanooijen.nl **************************** To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html