There seems to be a strong division over the reasons why theorbos are tuned re-entrantly. One side says it has to do with string tension, string length, and breakage, while the other school maintains it is for purely tonal reasons, better chording and so forth.
So here's another one for you. The archlute, similar in size to the theorbo (yes, smaller body, but the necks are usually about as long so the strings would also be similar in length) is not tuned re-entrantly. Why is that? Aren't both used for continuo as well as solo work? I know the two instruments are usually in different tunings, but if that is the only reason then Arto's supposition would be the norm, that a theorbo could simply have been retuned and not have to use re-entrant tuning. Craig ___________________________________________________________ $0 Web Hosting with up to 200MB web space, 1000 MB Transfer 10 Personalized POP and Web E-mail Accounts, and much more. Signup at www.doteasy.com To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
