Bruno touches on a good point. Some universities have early-music ensembles and own lutes. Members of those ensembles are sometimes provided with university instruments on loan while they are active with the ensemble. Here in central Ohio, e.g., Otterbein University occasionally assembles an early-music ensemble (including a lutenist). Members of that ensemble are not always affiliated with the university, but are simply interested in learning more about playing early music. Chicago is a populous place, Jim. I wouldn't be surprised if a little effort asking questions among academic music programs turned up similar ensembles there.
Once you explore further, you'll discover (if you haven't already) that the lutes associated with the time of Dowland and the lutes associated with the time of Bach were very different instruments, the standard baroque instrument with a very different standard tuning. Good luck out there, and enjoy some Giordano's pie for me! ...but not too much. Eugene -----Original Message----- From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On Behalf Of Bruno Fournier Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 3:06 PM To: William Samson Cc: Jim Ammeson; lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Subject: [LUTE] Re: My First Lute I would suggest you try and rent one from a local lutenist, or perhaps check with the university music faculty if there would be one available on loan. A regards A Bruno Cognyl-Fournier Montreal Canada A A On Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 1:32 PM, William Samson <[1]willsam...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: A A A difficult one, Jim. A Most lutes are built to order for a customer - A A unfortunate because the customer doesn't get a chance to try it before A A committing to buy it! A A There are, however, some off-the-peg lutes available. A Closest to your A A price range are the lutes built (in Pakistan??) for the Early Music A A Shop in England A A [1][2]http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000655-ems -8-cours A A e-renaissance-lute A I have recently seen and tried one of these and A A found it to play very well. A I don't know if similar lutes are A A available in the US but would be surprised if they aren't. A A The other possibility is the second-hand market, but you're in the lap A A of the gods, there. A A Good luck in your quest! A A Bill A A From: Jim Ammeson <[3]jimastr...@yahoo.com> A A To: "[4]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu" <[5]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> A A Sent: Tuesday, 31 July 2012, 17:31 A A Subject: [LUTE] My First Lute A A A So, I've been considering buying a lute for a few years now, but I've A A A had trouble finding places I can really try playing one or many A A people A A A I can talk to about them. A (Lutes are a bit of a niche thing, I A A know.) A A A A lutenist at the local renaissance faire suggested this list, so I A A A thought I'd post. A A A So, I'll just explain my situation, right now: A A A I've been playing classical guitar for about 5 years. A I play lots of A A A baroque and renaissance music, love the stuff. A I'd really like to A A try A A A playing a lute or two before deciding if I want to make the A A investment A A A in buying one. A As of right now, I don't have much over $500 to spend A A A (I know that's not probably enough for one that's really worth A A having, A A A unless I get a good price on a used one or something), but I'm A A A *willing* to spend more, just don't have it *now*. A (I'm a college A A A student, nuff said?) A A A I live in the Chicago area, and have asked around if there's anyplace A A A in the area whatsoever that makes lutes, and have tried looking A A online, A A A but haven't found anything. A I've asked around at renaissance faires, A A A as well, and, again, just was directed here by one lutenist. A A A So, any advice as to what a beginning lutenist should do? A Where to A A go A A A to try a lute for the first time and see if it is really something A A for A A A him? A I've been thinking an 8 course lute would be good for the A A pieces A A A I play to play...Bach and Dowland and the like? A Any general advice A A is A A A also appreciated. A A A -Jim A A A -- A A To get on or off this list see list information at A A [2][6]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html A A -- References A A 1. [7]http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000655-ems-8-co urse-renaissance-lute A A 2. [8]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- A Bruno Cognyl-Fournier A [9]www.estavel.org A -- References 1. mailto:willsam...@yahoo.co.uk 2. http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000655-ems-8-cours 3. mailto:jimastr...@yahoo.com 4. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 5. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 6. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 7. http://www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1000655-ems-8-course-renaissance-lute 8. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 9. http://www.estavel.org/
