"Martyn Hodgson" wrote: [...] if we use a proper size instrument (ie not an implausible 'toy' theorbo), against the laws of physics.
Let's assume a string lenght of 80 cm. It's not a toy, but a theorbo usable for solo music (i.e. the Mantuan 18 courses instrument). The 'breaking index' for gut is about 240 and I can calculate the highest frequency reachable for a gut string of a given lenght using this formula: highest frequency = 240 / lenght in meters that is highest frequency: 240 / 0.8 = 300 Hz. 300 Hz. is a little lower than a 'e' at 415. We also must consider that the tuning of the thorbo in G was not unusual: have a look in Praetorius, De Organographia, p. 27. Also Banchieri (L'organo suonarino, p. 43) give a G tuning with only the first string lowered. So the octave stringing of a 2nd course is all but against the laws of physics! Regarding the 'historical evidence', we mus suppose an alternative tuning, not only for Meli, but also for Pittoni. Sometimes 'historical evidence' means a stroke of luck: I can't immagine the situation for baroque guitar stringing without the discovery of the small paper by Stradivari about the inversion of the octave strings... Diego Cantalupi -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
