Dear Bill,
Most early representations show theorboes being held quite high up
and resting on the right thigh rather than between the legs as a modern
'classical' guitarist. Further, many early extant instruments have
fixing points for a cord/strap/ribbon: a button (or similar) at the end
of the body and one on the back of the first pegbox roughly where the
pegs are. Incidentally I can't see evidence of a practice of sitting on
the strap end.
By resting the instrument on the right thigh (similar to a flamenco
player's posture rather than a modern 'classical' guitarist- ie
inbetween the legs) and using such a strap I find all one needs is
something like a rough thick chamois leather placed on the thigh to
avoid any possibility of the instrument's lower side sliding forward.
No doubt, as has been suggested before (Bob Spencer I think), the heavy
coats of earlier players served much the same purpose.
It is also helpful to hold a theorbo more upright than a lute so that
the centre of gravity is closer in - it also helps a bit in playing
large left hand stretches. I've seen quite a few newcomers to the
theorbo struggle mightily with trying to play a theorbo in an almost
horizontal position as they play the lute and who soon find it much
easier when it is held more upright.
regards,
Martyn
From: William Samson <willsam...@yahoo.co.uk>
To: Lute List <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>; Daniel Shoskes
<kidneykut...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 2 October 2013, 22:42
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Thigh support for theorbo
Interesting question. Do we know how it was done back in the day?
Bill
Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android
__________________________________________________________________
From: Daniel Shoskes <[1]kidneykut...@gmail.com>;
To: Lute List <[2]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>;
Subject: [LUTE] Thigh support for theorbo
Sent: Wed, Oct 2, 2013 9:35:50 PM
Dear Theorbistas: has anyone ever tried one of the classical guitar
rests/cushions/supports that many guitarists now use instead of a
footstool for their theorbo? Some have suction cups or clamps which I
wouldn't be thrilled to use on my instrument, but some, like the
Dynarette don't.
I'm still struggling to find an ergonomic position and the "sitting
on
the strap" options just don't fit my body.
Thanks
Danny
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