Thank you Caroline
I have indeed adopted a leather belt in natural leather so I don't
seem to be out of order here, but my way of tying it (as I explain to
Sean) has received some comment
If I understand you correctly, there are paintings showing lute
straps, I will look more closely.
There is a strap maker here in Paris who makes wide straps from
padded woven natural silk, on which he makes subtle gold markings.
They look very beautiful, but I have not tried them myself. I had not
thought of the possibility of varying the colours according to mood
and dress. I seem to remember that there was a French watch maker who
sold his watches with a variety of straps, for that reason. Perhaps,
lute makers could similarly cater for the fashion conscious lutist
No, as you say, it is indeed the music on which we should focus, but
I did find the person wearing this new woven-silk lute-strap
extremely elegant.
Regards
Anthony
Le 14 mai 07 à 17:55, Caroline Usher a écrit :
> 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
>
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