Hi all: Just wanted to introduce myself. A few of you may remember me from a few years back on the LuteNet (which I am no longer a member of due to other commitments). I have played lute and cittern for a number of years. Additionally (and more importantly), I host the Renaissance Cittern Page, a resource that I hope is still serving the web community. Our address has changed, but you can now stop by for a visit at http://www.theaterofmusic.com/cittern. There is information on strings, makers, music, history, and art.
I had considered for some time creating a cittern list associated with the site, but seriously didn't think there would be enough interest to keep it going. I am glad to see that someone has created this list and that it is alive and well. Already some of the discussion here has given me some ideas for ways to expand the current cittern page. Regarding the post on easier cittern music, there are a few pieces on the cittern page under "sound and music files". In general, the Playford pieces, unfortunately, are either so full of mistakes or so little flushed out that they don't make for great solo pieces, IMO. However, I have been working on transcribing some of the pieces from Dd.14.24, most of which are consort pieces but a few of which are some easier solos. Because of my work schedule and other commitments (my wife and I have a baby on the way), work on much of this has slowed. I will try and get some of these posted in the next month, if possible. Lastly, I wanted to give people an open invitation to visit the cittern page and give some critical feedback. My work on it has nearly ground to a halt in the last few years, but I would like to continue having it as a resource for others. I would also welcome anyone who would like to volunteer to work on a bit of it or would like to contribute anything to it. The page is meant as a page for the public -- I only hope it can be supported by them as well. The cittern really is a great instrument (2nd? to the lute?), and I hope that through communication and collaboration we can at least help to give it its rightful place in music. Sorry for creating such a long message. I look forward in participating in this discussion list, albeit probably on the less frequent side. Best regards, Andrew To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
