Dear Roman, > > It has been > > suggested that the Spanish preferred the vihuela because of the > > lute's association with the Moors.
Gilbert Chase in his book, _The Music of Spain_ (New York, 1941), page 53, suggested that the Spanish might have resented the lute because of its association with the Moors. > > The vihuela is a guitar-shaped instrument tuned like the renaissance > > lute. It was played in Spain in the 16th century in preference to > > the lute (although by no means exclusively so). In her article, "The Lute in Christian Spain", _The Lute Society Journal_, vol. XIX (1977), pp.34-49, Diana Poulton argues that the situation was more complex than Gilbert Chase would have us believe, and gives all kinds of evidence, including iconographical evidence, which shows that the lute was indeed played in Spain. However, her evidence is drawn from a wide period of time, and doesn't really explain why the Spanish should have printed music for the vihuela and not the lute, in the 40 years from Luis Milan (1536) to Estaban Daza (1576). Best wishes, Stewart McCoy. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roman Turovsky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Stewart McCoy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Lute Net" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, December 12, 2003 2:35 PM Subject: Re: Vihuela > > > The vihuela is a guitar-shaped instrument tuned like the renaissance > > lute. It was played in Spain in the 16th century in preference to > > the lute (although by no means exclusively so). It has been > > suggested that the Spanish preferred the vihuela because of the > > lute's association with the Moors. > This suggestion can be happily eliminated from future descriptions as there > is iconography testifying to the contrary. > RT
