> Charlie,
>
> once again, people accuse me of insulting them (at least you, unlike
> Abramovich and others before) did not insult me but answered with a
> statement that I can relate to. Thanks.
My friend: learn to listen (read) to yourself; spend some more time
thinking, and then make your contributions.
You were insulting, for instances suggesting that people using synthetic
strings were simply as wrong as people who voted for Bush or supported WWI.
I've only said that you were arrogant and ignorant; that was not an insult
but a mere description of how you were acting.
Now, about other people's priorities (not in order of importance):
Can you make a flexible, audible and interesting sound with a lute? Would
you be able to make music with that?
Can you play the repertoire (or a substantial part of it) effortless,
produce your own- and very personal- musical speech and transfer it to the
audience?
Can you for instances clearly hear- and choose exactly what to do with them-
what happens with two, three or more voices while playing polyphony?
Do you really understand meanings and intentions of the thousands of notes
written by the ancient masters? How about your own signification?
Can you play fast, clean and with expressiveness the huge amount of virtuoso
music published for the renaissance lute?
Are you able to convince people (all sorts of people) that is worth playing
and listening lute and/or lute music, and that there's a whole world to be
discovered?
Are you capable of improvise divisions or "simple" two voice counterpoint?
Are you able to accompany a singer with sensitivity, clarity and in a very
supportive way?
More important:
Do you enjoy spending most of the day practicing the lute, trying to rise up
your skills and to find new meanings to the material you're working with?
Are you seriously "in love" and committed to the fantastic music we're
working with?
Personally speaking, once I know how to reply the former questions, I would
worry about string's materials. Otherwise, I think something is missing.
To get on or off this list see list information at
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
