>From someone who came at the Lute through listening to Julian Bream I think Mr. North's playing is just about as articulate. For me to admit that is a lot. Most other Lutenists I had heard to this point sounded like they were playing rubber bands stretched over an old cigar box.
I don't believe he uses nails, I know very well what that sounds like, having done so for years before I changed to the thumb under technique. I still hate the octave base that seems to interrupt the flow of the counterpoint on occasion. I know I should be shot for this blasphemy but in listening to Mr. North it became particularly annoying. For me it ruined the performance of an other-wise genius presentation. Mr. North's ability to use the nuances of tone the Lute is capable of is wonderful. Most people will pick a place on the strings and stay there making their playing as characterless as a harpsichord. This is of course just my opinion and observation, and in case you have not guessed I really liked his performance a lot. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bernd Haegemann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Bruno Correia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 2:54 PM Subject: [LUTE] Re: Nigel on YouTube > > >> The question of nails just arose because I felt the sound was extremely >> focused, almost as if he was playing on a single string with nails. Also, >> if >> you notice his right hand, the fingers are been used as in classical >> guitar >> technique where you don't bend the last joint. That's how I started out >> playing, but soon as I cut the nails I had to bend the last joint to be >> able >> to grab both strings together. >> > > Hi all, > I saw N. North first in 1978 or so when he was already a great player > and definitely in full ability of picking a lute "classically". > So maybe those pro's develop some higer abilities.. > > In concert he is really most impressing, as David Tayler already pointed > out. > I listened to 3 Dowland concerts last year in Berlin on 3 consecutive days > (P. O'Dette, > H. Smith, N.North) and with Mr. North I felt as in a private audience with > Dowland > playing himself, so to speak. Every tone shaped wonderfully (I thought > that this > was the sense of the right hand shifts), not a concert atmosphere but > somebody telling > you things with expression and calmness. > Extraordinary. > > best wishes > B. > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.6/902 - Release Date: 7/15/2007 > 2:21 PM > >
