Here I go again, the amateur. But being such, and inveterately curious, I've read a lot on your many infomative web sites. I thought it was Van Edwards or Shepard where I read it, but I just scanned both and didn't see it. What I read was that the early use of the octave tuning was because the low tension of the lower strings needed the support of the octave, and the same source said that the later "loaded" or "wound" strings didn't need it. The same source said that the octave tuning was detrimental to contrapuntal works and that when the string technology met the contrapuntal style the octave tuning was dropped. He also said that the mid 20th century revival of the lute came back to the octave tuning without really knowing why.
Pardon my sticking my oar in, I don't remember who said the above. But it had to be either the web site of one of you, or buried in my Damiani book. My aging mind remembers all sorts of things, but often forgets the "road map". But I do know that everything I've read on the lute has been suggested by someone on this list - for which I thank you all. Best, Jon
