I've made my peace with straps and often play standing now. One thing that helps is to use a wide belt that has ties. For these I scavange used clothing stores. On the peg box end of the strap I have strings (or thongs) that go to both ends of the pegbox, ie, the 1st and 6th courses as well as the far end (3rd and 4th course pegs). With a little wrapping or string adjustment I get a VERY stable position. The lute never rolls down or up. regards, Sean
Caroline Usher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Anthony Hind wrote: > On two slightly different topics. > I have seen lutists using a wooden tool to turn pegs. I wouldn't mind > buying one of these myself; however, is there not a risk of breaking > a peg or even the peg-box? > Not if you know when to cease and desist. It should be pretty obvious when a peg is really jammed and needs to be tapped out, or allowed to dry out in lower humidity. If your pegs are in good working condition there should be no danger. The peg-turner helps you to turn the peg more smoothly. > I have not noticed any paintings of lute players showing them with a > lute strap, and yet most players use a strap today. Might these be > absent from paintings, but nevertheless have been used when the > lutist actually played? Are there any signs on the old lutes > themselves that straps were indeed used? > Search the archives of this list. > There seem to be many ways of wearing these straps. Yes. Remember that the clothing worn in the heyday of the lute was very different from ours. That makes a big difference. > Would either of these > methods be beneficial or tend to inhibit resonance? > > I have noticed that the lute remains most stable when the strap is > tied nearer the extremity of the peg-box. > That works for you and probably most men. I find that since my shoulders are narrower and more rounded, I have to attach the strap close to the neck or it slips off my shoulder. > Furthermore, some people use colourful cloth material, while others > use a very solid guitar-strap. Is it just the case of 'use what works > for you", or are there serious reasons for adopting a particular > method? De gustibus non disputandum. Wider is better, as is non-slippery. You want something that will grip your back. Remember that how you look does affect how people perceive you. A psychedelic strap may remind you of your hard-rockin' college days and comment ironically the instrument you now favor, but would be out of place in the Collegium concert. Black or natural leather is never out of place. When I play in costume I have a strap that matches my dress. BTW my costume is in subdued colors with low contrast--in other words it's not a "stage" costume with lots of stripes, gold braid etc. The idea is to focus on the music after all. The costume helps set the mood. Caroline -- Caroline Usher, Dept. of Biology Box 90338 Durham NC 27708 613-8155, fax 660-7293 "So that its subjects will view it with admiration, as a chicken which has the daring and courage to boldly cross the road, but also with fear, for who among them has the strength to contend with such a paragon of avian virtue? In such a manner is the princely chicken's dominion maintained." - Machiavelli To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html --
