At 20:29 04-01-2004 -0000, Stewart McCoy wrote: >Dear Arne, > >Martin is absolutely right. > >1) In _The Schoole of Musicke_ (London, 1603) Thomas Robinson gives >instructions on how to tune the lute. He begins with the 1st course, >which, as far as he is concerned, clearly consists of two strings: > >"Now you shall learne to tune your Lute, and for a generall rule, >first set up the _Treble_ so high as you dare venter [=venture] for >breaking, setting them both in one tune or sound called an unison >.." > >That's pretty unequivocal. "Treble" is singular, because it refers >to the first course, but the rest of the quotation shows that it is >a double course. > >2) In his "Other Necessary Observations belonging to the Lute" in >Robert Dowland's _Varietie_ (London, 1610) John Dowland refers to >"Trebles" (plural) for the 1st course: > >"... first set on your Trebles, which must be strayned neither too >stiffe nor too slacke, but of such a reasonable height that they may >deliver a pleasant sound ..." > >Again, it is quite clear that Dowland has in mind a lute with a >double first course. > >3) On page 41 of _Musick's Monument_ (London, 1676) Thomas Mace >writes: > >"And here you must take notice, that when we say a Lute of 12 >Strings, there are but 6; and likewise a Lute of 24 Strings, there >are but 12, (as to substantial Use)." > >I don't think for a minute that any of these three gentlemen would >have denied the existence of lutes with a single first course, but, >from what they say, it would seem that lutes with a double first >course were perhaps not as unusual as we might have thought. > >Best wishes, > >Stewart. >
Than you Stewart, this is indeed convincing. Is there similar evidence of Continental treble string usage, or can we consider it a specially English convention? Arne.
