Hi Bill: That's interesting, are you serious? I remember in my old Rock and Roll days when we had to play an outdoor concert for the very first Earth Day, I was sicker than the proverbial dog, running a fever (had pneumonia it turns out) and played guitar with gloves on. But play the Lute? I'm not sure I could even find the strings let alone not muck them altogether. However I am willing to try it. Sounds to me kind of like a bucket of steam and a snipe hunt.
Thanks for the reply and please realize I am only half joking with you about your sincerity towards the surgical gloves. Vance Wood. ----- Original Message ----- From: "bill sterling" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "lute list" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Serge-Andr� Comeau" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Vance Wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2003 4:28 PM Subject: Re: Right Hand Questions > try playing with a snug surgical glove on your plucking hand. very > revealing. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Vance Wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "lute list" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Serge-Andr� Comeau" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2003 5:07 AM > Subject: Re: Right Hand Questions > > > > Hi All: > > > > I am the one who posted the original message in this string about the > right > > hand and Oil of Tarter. The replies about the oil of tartar I was not > > surprised to find. I am still not sure what we think is Oil of Tarter is > > what Besard was talking about. Aside from that, it really was a separate > > issue in Varietie and was related to imparting flexibility to the hands > and > > not a condition to the skin that made playing better. However when it > comes > > to the washing of the hands in hot water and the sound the right hand > > produces afterwards, if this was not such a significant difference I would > > not have posted it. > > > > I remember a couple of months ago there was a discussion here about loaded > > base strings, and why in some of the paintings these items seemed to be > red. > > Several conclusions were that the strings were loaded with lead or > arsenic. > > This of course brought up the obvious dangers of using such strings. It > > was mentioned that a couple of modern artists are of the habit of licking > > the fingers of their right hands, during a concert, to improve the sound. > > This would be dangerous to the player who uses such strings. > > > > I view this little tid bit of information as a conformation that others > may > > have discovered this same issue and use licking the fingers as a working > > alternative to washing or soaking in water. The argument that I should > > adjust my technique to achieve this same sound, without the washing, is a > > rather shallow solution understanding that there is no way, direction, or > > angle of attack that will render this same sound, I have tried every > thing; > > every possible way of striking, plucking, brushing, and pinching the > strings > > has been examined with the exception of my toes, though some may accuse me > > of playing the Lute with them now. Nothing can match it. I am left with > > the conclusion that the remedy is in the skin of the hands and not the > > direction or method of articulation. I appreciate the efforts of all who > > have replied to my question and will try some of the alternatives > mentioned. > > > > Vance Wood. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Serge-Andr� Comeau" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 9:51 PM > > Subject: Re: Right Hand Questions > > > > > > > I have also found the sound is better just after washing my hands. As a > > > substitute, I sometimes rub my finger tips back and forth on my corduroy > > > pants ( a rough nail file might work to...) > > > > > > Serge-Andr� > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
