Now here is a very odd theory, that dashed into my brain last night
about
the Gibson instrument in Amsterdam.
I have not the slightest background about Irish Bouzukis, but I had a
closer
look at a modern one at the international music fair in Frankfurt. It
was a
five course instrument with a fixed bridge and the head has the same
form
with five pegs left and right.
I know, I have nothing substantial to make a theory, but I just wonder,
why
the Irish Gibson instrument has such a long string length!
Perhaps the stringing was altered later (make a guittar into an irish
bouzuki, take a bit of glue and the thing gets quite modern?)?
Or did the Irish alter the guittar very early to their own purposes and
create thus the "Bouzuki"?
What David said about the instruments in the rosette ("folk music
ensemble") could be a hint in that direction, too.
Does anyone have a clue, it that would be a possibility?
Martina
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