Confession time: I was originally thinking of a 7c, then played Malcolm Prior's 10c (before it was shipped to Germany), and decided on one of those, at 64cms. Now I'm thinking 7c again...I drive myself and everyone around me crazy sometimes. So what do I want it for? I don't have a lute in Renaissance tuning. Repertoire I would like to explore:
1. Dowland songs, especially the first three books - 7c 2. Dowland solos, including the chromatic fantasies - 7c 3. Francesco da Milano - 6c 4. Airs de cour - 10c 5. Scottish - 10c All of the above could be played on a 10c, but not successfully. Likewise on a 7c, but again with debateable compromise. So I need a luthier with a 'three for the price of one' offer! The airs de cour could be played on the theorbo or 7c. The Scottish repertoire is OK on a 7c, though not ideal. Francesco on a 7c? I wouldn't be the first to do that. I could always take the seventh off and add an octave to the fifth course, but is it worth it? Dowland songs down a tone or tone and a half? Yes, I like a more spoken delivery - that might work if I could get a singer willing enough. So... Today, it looks like a 7c in E (440), all gut, 64cms. Tomorrow? Rob -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
