Oooups sorry David,
My error comes from "remembering" some messages, from a few
years
ago, in which I thought you mentioned playing Baroque music in an
ensemble; but now I think about it, could have been any form of
continuo playing, perhaps theorbo (and now I supposes it wasn't
Baroque). I seemed to remember that you told me how well the gut
strings had projected within a large group of players; but now I
reflect on it, it might not even have been you. I was communicating
with Nick Baldock at the same time and I may be confusing the two
messages. I know he (also?) spoke about the excellent projection of
gut strings in ensemble playing, but of course in his case, it was
the double bass.
This error was reinforced, by hearing you accompany a singer with
your arch lute (obviously not Baroque), but I could have sworn you
ventured into Purcell territory. From this, and the fact that I
strongly associate you (I feel sure?) with Toyohiko Satoh (who does
play Baroque lute?), I have always been under the impression that you
played both Renaissance and Baroque lute. I do appologise, for
allowing myself to jump to false conclusions. Just shows how vague
memories and false associations can fool the mind, but mine appears
to be rapidly failing me.
I agree that the Sofracob, which Martin Haycock put on my Renaissance
lute on the octaves have lasted now for a year. They do sound very
good. He also put them on the second course, but there, they rapidly
degenerated, and I replaced them with Kuerschner because Wolfgang
Fruh, Point D'accroche, sells them in paris close to where I live.
However, although they are a little hard in texture and quite bright,
they do seem to last longer than the Sofracob. Although, having said
that, I once had a Sofracob top string that lasted all winter (at
least a couple of months!). I think weather and temperature can play
a part in the survival of these strings.
So now it seems I have made you a "virtual" Baroque lute player, as I
am myself, very strongly in my mind. I would so much like to play
French Baroque lute music, and of course on a gut strung lute.
Best regards
Anthony
>> I have not used gut strings on a Baroque instrument, however. It
>> would be best to ask advice from those that have. I know that David
>> van Ooijen amongst others, uses all gut on his Baroque lutes.
>
> Dear Anthony
>
> It's nice to know one doesn't even have to play a single baroque
> lute to be known as a player who plays more than one. I must
> confess to having rather many lutes, and, yes, all are strung in
> gut from varous makers like Gamut, Aquila, Kuerschner, Cathedrale
> and Sofracob, but none are baroque lutes, actually. I'll quote you
> on my CV from now on.
>
> But more to the point, I tend to use Sofracob for courses two to
> four and for octave strings on the basses. They're cheap, have a
> good gutsy sound and come in 3 meter length. I you make a large
> enough order the 10 euro handling fee is no problem because the
> strings cheap. Furthermore, with _really_ large orders you'll get a
> discount. I even use 0.40 Sofracob as a first course for studying
> purposes. Life expectancy anything between 0.3 sec to three weeks.
> Sofracob strings have a good balance between mellow, warm sound and
> clear attack with 'clean' sound. Not as warm as Gamut, but treble
> gut by Gamut can be a bit too warm and therefore dull on some of my
> lutes, and not as sharp and thin as Kuerschner, although on some
> instruments I like to use Kuerschner for the first course.
> My baroque guitar is all Sofracob. Perfect for the instrument.
>
> David - should get a baroque lute, one day
>
>
> ****************************
> David van Ooijen
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> www.davidvanooijen.nl
> ****************************
>
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