Roman, OK, I've had it. Your snippy replies to David Cameron did the trick. I've tried to be polite and maintain a conversation.
It doesn't matter whether wire strings could have been made a thousand years ago, or two or three thousand. It doesn't matter whether the lute came from the hunter's bowstring in his cave by stopping the string, or if that was the harp by adding more strings to the bow and becoming a "pure musician", to be supported for his aesthetic value by the real hunters who got the game. Actually none of what you say matters, history isn't a perfect document, and as I said in another message it isn't always linear. I think we can both agree that the legendary Golden Age of the Greeks never happened, but it seems that you see a Golden Age of music, that also never happened. You answer David's rather strong comment > > Give it a rest, Roman. You're out of your depth, and have nothing more to > > contribute to the discussion, other than a display of ego. by saying > Why don't you contribute something? Share your knowledge. Well, perhaps David has done so, even if by just commenting on your own contributions. I feel a bit out of my own depth as a newcomer to the lute. I feel that I should be careful in what I say and bow to the more senior members of this list (although I doubt that any are senior to me in either age or time in music). A statement of principles for dialogue from one who has a lot of time in grade. Never denigrate any comment or opinion, but always answer that which you think to be misinformation. Yet do it politely, and with a full reading of the message. Don't let your ego get involved, you may be wrong!. And now I'll close with a provocative comment. I believe I know you sir, I've known many of you over the years. A lack of imagination, and an antagonism to imagination. A fixation on a particular skill, perhaps born of imagined deprivation. You, sir, are the titan of lute music, I accept that. You have defined yourself as such. Now just let the rest of us enjoy the dialogue of learning among ourselves - we are not so perfect on lute music, but we may have some other virtues. Best, Jon To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
