Dear Rob,
As one definitely in the not-so-advanced (yes, you may say that) category, I
greatly appreciate your efforts. It was very interesting and instructive to
get a glimpse of the kind of things you keep in mind when approaching a
piece, and I for one would welcome any and all forms of help from the
professionals among us. Never having had a teacher or a single lute lesson,
I have to struggle along the best I can, and I am afraid that the old
adage--"Whoever has himself for a teacher has a fool for a student"--is in
my case all too true. The worst part is the not-so-blissful ignorance of not
even knowing what I don't know or am doing wrong. I have no idea what a
teacher would teach me were I to study at a conservatory, since I have never
had such an experience, but I dream that someday someone will publish a lute
method with systematic, step-by-step video instructions to supplement as far
as possible the absence of a live teacher. In the meantime, instructional
videos, such as the one you made on baroque guitar strumming, are immensely
helpful, and a series that would cover all the basics (tone production,
articulation, phrasing, fingerings, etc.) would be an invaluable resource.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity in taking the time to make a
start on this initiative.
A not-so-sly lurker,
Stephen Arndt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob MacKillop" <luteplay...@googlemail.com>
To: "lute-cs.dartmouth.edu" <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 2:40 PM
Subject: [LUTE] help for 'improving' lute and vihuela players
[I'm cross-posting this from the vihuela list as some lute students
might find it useful. Remember, the vihuela was tuned the same way as a
6c lute, so you could play this music on your lute.]
I don't think we do enough, generally speaking, for the maybe not-so
advanced (if I may say that) players among us. I have had quite a few
questions over the years from beginners, post-beginners, and those who
have hit the brick wall and can't move forward, and maybe we should do
more to help. Well, with this in mind I've started a page on the
[1]www.vihuela.eu site which sets out to do just that. I've started
with a 'duo' (for one instrument) by Fuenllana/Josquin, as, like
Bermudo, I believe the articulation of vocal lines is one of the most
crucial yet difficult things to achieve well on the vihuela or lute.
The page is very much just beginning, so please let me know what you
would like to see there. I can't promise I'll be able to do all you
ask...Unfortunately, the vihuela I used for the recording needs some
attention, and does tend to buzz occasionally...but it's not a CD.
Anyway, hot foot it to [2]http://www.vihuela.eu/study.htm I have the
score in French tab, an mp3 performance, plus an mp3 of commentary as I
explore the piece, discussing how I approach my interpretation.
Doubtless, someone else would play it very differently, and you must
find your own way eventually, but hopefully this will help.
Rob MacKillop
PS There are many good players on the lute list. Hopefully this will
move them to improve on what I have done here. We should be helping
younger and less-advanced players as much as we can.
--
References
1. http://www.vihuela.eu/
2. http://www.vihuela.eu/study.htm
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