Hello Josh and Matthias
I tend to agree with Matthias. Although, the 6 course is a beautiful
instrument and the 8 to 10 course would allow you to play the later
music as well as "the notes" of the earlier music, the 7 course is a
good compromise. Unless you have already decided on exactly the
repertoire that you are going to play in the future; and so long as
you have decided to keep to the Renaissance repertoire (a variable 10
course/11 course might be a potential choice if you hesitate between
late renaissance and early Baroque lute music; but that does not seem
to be your case).
Le 27 avr. 07 à 23:36, Mathias Rösel a écrit :
>
> The thing is, you can play almost every piece of renaissance lute
> music
> on an 8c lute. You could play just any piece of renaissance lute music
> on a 10c lute. However, the more bass courses are added, the more
> changes the sound of the lute as a whole. It starts with the 7th
> course.
I think this is one of the reasons why so many lute players love the
6 course renaissance lute.
It has such a beautiful playability balance and clarity. Both these
qualities can be gradually lost as more courses are added,
particularly if you use metal wounds and not gut basses.
>
>
> But from a practical point of view, the 7c lute will probably be the
> instrument of choice.
The 7 course does not compromise the playability too much and does
not overly degrade the clarity; while it does allow you to play later
Renaissance music.
Gut diapasons may further reduce this problem, but of course are
expensive, and some think are also too time consuming in tuning.
Although others consider this is well worth the additional effort.
Furthermore, the 7 course lute, I think, did appear quite early in
the period, and can be used for some Renaissance Italian music
(as Jacob Heringman does on some of the pieces on his recording of
The Sienna Lute Book).
There is perhaps also the model to think about. Jacob used a Gerle
style, which he dates to about 1580.
> With lutes of seven courses, the 7th course is tuned a fourth below
> the
> 6th, in most instances. That would be low D on a lute in G. With lutes
> of eight courses, the 7th course is tuned a second below the 6th, and
> the 8th is tuned a fourth below the 6th, in most instances. That would
> be low F and D, repsectively, on a lute in G.
If, as Matthias says, you have your 7th course tuned to low D (and
not to F), you can also play individual notes corresponding to those
of an 8 course lute.
The open 7th course plays D which is usually the same as the open 8th
course of an 8 course lute; and by stopping your 7th course at the
3rd fret you can obtain
the F of the open 7th course of an 8 course lute. You can not of
course play these notes simultaneously.
It has to be admitted that stopping the 7th course at the third fret
is more difficult than playing an open string, but possible.
Best
Anthony
> --
> Best
>
> Mathias
>
> "Josh Winters" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> schrieb:
>> Hi Mathias,
>>
>> Thank you very much for the info. While doing my research, I heard
>> it mentioned that the 7c could be tuned to play 6c music. Is this
>> true? If it is, would you recommend I start that way?
>>
>> I only ask because I will have to stay with one instrument for
>> probably quite some time (since I'll be breaking the bank to get
>> my first lute as it is).
>>
>> Again, thank you so much. I value your advice.
>>
>> -Josh
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: "Mathias Rösel" [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 1:38 PM
>> To: [email protected]
>> Subject: [LUTE] Re: Hello! A couple questions.
>>
>> Hello Josh,
>>
>> I can't imagine any better place for your questions than this one.
>> May I
>> cordially welcome you. As for the type of lute about which you are
>> asking, I'd say a 6c lute is best. On the other hand, it is most
>> probable that you will run into Mr John Dowland's music one day.
>> As for
>> that kind of music, you'll be better off with a 7c instrument. My two
>> cents.
>> --
>> Mathias
>>
>> "Josh Winters" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> schrieb:
>>> Hello everyone,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm new to this mailing list, having only been here for about a
>>> week.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I do not play the lute, but I have always enjoyed the sound of lute
>>> music, and over time I've become interested in learning to play.
>>> However, during my research I have found too many conflicting
>>> answers to
>>> my questions. I hope nobody minds me asking them here.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> To the best of my knowledge, the music I enjoy the most is from
>>> England,
>>> approximately mid 1500s, maybe even most of that century. If I
>>> wanted to
>>> start by learning the music of that period, which lute would you
>>> recommend? I know that different eras would require different
>>> setups, so
>>> I want to make sure I don't buy the wrong thing and get stuck
>>> playing
>>> other music (although, I'd probably still enjoy it).
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Also, would you recommend a different mailing list?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thank you very much for your help, and I apologize if I was a
>>> bother,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Josh
>
>
>
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