Dear Collective wisdom, When did double first courses cease to exist on renaissance lutes? We know from early on, and from the middle ages, they were double strung on every course, including the treble. In terms of iconographical evidence, I looked at the Caravaggio "Lute Player", an the subject (he or she) is playing a 6 course lute, double strung throughout, including the treble, and there are 6 pegs on the upper and lower side of the peg box. Caravaggio's birth- death dates are 1571â1610. So, perhaps his subject had an old fashioned lute for the time, or perhaps double-strung first courses lasted longer than we may think. Vihuelas also her double strung in the first courses, at least the instruments show 12 pegs for the 6-course vihuela. I tried to look up some information to answer my questions, but I could not find any in the sources I used. So, my questions are: 1. When did the double first courses stop, or go out of vogue? Was it universal, or did some countries / nationalities stop the practice earlier or later than others.? Did Francesco use a double first course? 2. Why did the double chanterelle stop? We know that later, lutes only had pegs and pegboxes to accommodate a single treble. 3. What evidence is there to support the "when and why" of this practice? 4. If a double chanterelle was the norm for a great part of the renaissance, why is it that it is so infrequently that we see a modern player doing this practice? Thanks in advance. ed
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