It seems that the richness of lute overtones is NOT conducive to gratuitous
dissonance that is de rigeur in most modernist and neomodernist music. And
that naturally translates as acoustically inappropriate on a lute
(especially baroque, much more than renaissance one).
RT
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Rastall" <[email protected]>
To: "Mark Probert" <[email protected]>
Cc: "Lute list" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 1:07 PM
Subject: [LUTE] Re: New lute music
On Sep 25, 2009, at 11:47 AM, Mark Probert wrote:
It seems, to my naif ear, that the composers don't really understand the
lute and how it works. Given the intervals and the tonality, why not
just play this stuff on a guitar?
Why not indeed! Speaking for myself, I expect a certain type of sound
from the lute, that I want to consider "historical", and when I don't
hear that sound the lute can seem out of place. Your ear may not be as
"naif" as you think. I can easily hear guitar in those pieces.
Please don't take me for a Luddite that is lost in the 16thC: it just
ain't so.
I don't think one needs to be a Luddite in order to place the lute in a
historical context. Not that it has to be imprisoned there, but we
choose our battles: for some it's New Music On The Lute, for others it's
Weiss, or Dowland, or whatever. Me, I'm lost in the 17th- century lute at
this point (but that can change...).
Best,
DavidR
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