On Sep 26, 2006, at 7:50 AM, David Rastall wrote: > Dowland's lute parts should be read as realised continuo? > Are you sure? I would doubt that ... > > Well, they have bass lines which serve as the basis for their > harmonic structure. Whether or not they "should be read" as such > is an interesting question.
I guess it kind of depends on how you play continuo. I mean continuo can encompass everything from inventing clever polyphonic counterpoint to just blocking out the chords. I forget the context and what point the teacher was trying to make, but it is a helpful way to look at any tune: i.e. become aware of the harmony and then see the choices the composer made. I bet JD could improvise some vicious "continuo" to his, or other well known songs of the time. Ed Durbrow Saitama, Japan [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www9.plala.or.jp/edurbrow/ -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
