Thanks Ed and David (and other comments too). Refining my comments a little, I would say that for the solo work I would be happy with a lower pitch, so tuning to F would be no big deal. I was worried about asking a soprano or tenor to sing a tone lower, especially those who have already learned some of these songs at 440. In this regard, I find David's comments very interesting. I will not, however, be able to afford two lutes (why not use a capo? - much cheaper!). I will give it much thought. But Ed, I totally understand, agree with and appreciate what you are saying.
Rob On 02/04/2008, David Tayler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > 64 is a bit long in the tooth for 440. > You can get the gut up to pitch barely but it is a stretch. > But if you want it for Dowland, F is very good both singer and solo wise. > The tessatura of the songs is such that a significant number phonate > better at 392, > although some of the nice ones lie low, eg Can she excuse, In Darkness > I usually use two lutes for the songs a tone apart, so as to include > Flow not so fast, Weep you no more, and a few of the low ones, > Shepherd in a shade, etc.For a soprano you can go 392/440 > For a mezzo or alto/countertenor 370/415 > > dt > > > > > > At 12:38 PM 4/1/2008, you wrote: > >I'm thinking of getting a 7c in G at 440 - is 64cms the longest length > >possible? I have big hands and find small lutes uncomfortable. I'm > thinking > >of it principally for Dowland's chromatic fantasies but also accompanying > a > >singer in songs from Dowland's first three books (all for seven-course), > and > >need to be at 440. How stable will be the pitch at 440? Gut strings would > be > >preferable, but might well opt for nylgut for the first course if it > keeps > >breaking. What diameters and tensions would you suggest? > > > >Also on relatively small lutes (not baroque) such as a 7c, what > difference > >in tone might one expect from a multi-ribbed back as opposed to wide > ribs? > > > >Rob MacKillop > > > >-- > > > >To get on or off this list see list information at > >http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > > --
