Hi David, ap Huw: This is precisely why I was interested in your message: I thought you had the key to the code... I think there are interesting parallels between the harp tradition and the early english lute dumps: see http://cbsr26.ucr.edu/wlkfiles/Publications/dumpe.html for my theory. Since I wrote that page, I found a mention of a "dolefull dump" being played on the battlefield (after the battle) in a late 18th century book devoted to Ireland, although it is likely that the reference may not have been to a specific and still contemporary style. The "finger picking" style of many dumps with the thumb alternance on two basses could fit well I think with the harp technique of a bass-line being played with the thumb and index finger of the left hand: but does such a technique really exist? Alain
David Rastall wrote: >Yes, there's that Robert ap Huw source, and I *think* there is some >harp tab in the Skene MS. I could be wrong about that. > >Cynthia Cathcart is a clarsach player who comes to mind on the >subjects of both harp tab and lute tab. She's the local guru on >clarsach-related subjects in the Washington DC area: she plays >strictly wire-strung (on very beautiful Ardival harps!). I don't >know if she actually sightreads the old Scottish lute tab but (just >to keep things lute-related here) I know she's able to utilize it to >make arrangements for the wire-strung harp. In a way I guess that's >sort of like transcribing Chillesotti from guitar notation back to >lute tab! > >On Jan 26, 2006, at 3:41 PM, marigold castle wrote: > > > >> Actually, many folk harpers don't play by ear. Most of us amateur >>folk harpers, being lazy dogs, just buy books of predigested harp >>music converted into modern musical notation. We leave the playing >>(and arranging) from original sources to the likes of Grainne Yeats >>or Alison Kinnaird. ;) >> >> > >So do I! They do it so well! Alison Kinneard's arrangements are >very wire-strung friendly! But what I meant about playing by ear was >that after I've learned a tune I'm able to play it without having the >sheet music in front of me. I can make my own arrangement of it. I >do this with all the tunes I know on both clarsach and hammered >dulcimer. Unlike the lute, which I have to play from the tablature >every time. > >David R > > > > >To get on or off this list see list information at >http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > >
