From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [LUTE] Re: lute straps
Date: 4 May 2006 06:18:55 BDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dear Katherine
It is quite easy to play a typical six course lute standing up
without any sort of strap, but one needs to rethink the technique
used to play such instruments. The pictures show that left hand
technique in the 16th century was often very like that used by modern
folk and rock guitarists, with the neck cradled between the base of
the 1st finger and the thumb, and so supporting the neck without any
need for a strap. The typical deep parabola shape of the neck on this
type of instrument makes this quite comfortable. At the other end of
the instrument, C 16th (and earlier) pictures often show that the
right arm is actually in line with the centre line of the soundboard.
So the pressure of the right arm holds the instrument steady, without
any tendency to roll about. I used to do a solo lute programme in
which I played the first item (Arthur's Dump) while walking from the
back of the hall. The piece has several shifts from 1st to 5th
position and back, which did not cause major problems. Of course,
this does not work well for later repertory and styles of playing,
especially pieces with lots of barre chords.
On the subject of gut strings and the buttons to accommodate them,
I have an old guitar made in the mid/late 18th cenury by Marchal in
Paris. There seems little doubt that it was originally a 5 course
double strung instrument, though it has been crudely altered to 6
single strings. It has two small, rather flat, ivory buttons, one at
each end of the back. The shape of the buttons means that they could
only take a thin piece of string, up to about .70 mm. No sign of the
piece of original gut, though!
Martin
On 2 May 2006, at 16:08:54, Katherine Davies wrote:
> There are lots of renaissance pictures of people
> playing lutes while standing up without any sign of a
> strap. Does anyone do this? Any ideas on how - or if -
> it could be done?
>
> I'm not having a go at strap-users; I'm just a bit
> puzzled - I have enough trouble keeping the thing in
> place when I'm sitting down.
>
> thanks,
> Katherine Davies
>
>
>
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