Just as a point of reference, the average number of edits on a 60 minute classical CD is about 800. The maximum I have seen on a lute CD (lute CDs run higher than average) is 1800. That works out to one edit every two seconds at the crunchy end, every 4.5 seconds average. YMMV. The CD reveals little about the players ability, but represents an impression. To see how a player really plays, one must see the show.
I see no real obstacle if the material is three or four minute pieces why a lute CD could not be mistake free given several takes, after all it it is possible to play continuo for four hour opera mistake free, although it happens not so often.... The edits then would be the ones linking the pieces together. A true "edit free" CD is not a string of takes, but like a concert, an hour straight through; and it is not that difficult to play an hour mistake free, given several tries. Classical musicians on piano, violin, organ, etc. routinely turn in such performances in concert, the editing on the CD then becomes more of an artistic choice than the elimination of mistakes. DT To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
