A modern guitar is no more a lute than a modern concert piano is a harpsichord or portatif. However, modern guitars are mass produced to a decent degree of quality control and can be had more cheaply than decent lutes. Just as the modern piano doesn't have any difficulty handling the mechanics of performing harpsichord music, much lute music (especially renaissance lute music because of the near-parallel tuning) can be easily realized on modern guitar. However, playing lute music on modern guitar is not like playing it on a lute. I suppose it depends upon what you'd really like to do.
Best, Eugene > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 4:37 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [LUTE] i am one confused discouraged lute newbie - but see a > rainbow horizon > > Well! > thanks to all your feedback on buying a lute... > and I got a lot.. > and all of it helpful.. > (thanks!!) > I have decided to take the advice of one of you and wait till I find a > teacher and am sure of what type of music I want to play before I buy a > lute. > Since i am on a tight budget (retired) I have to ensure I know what I am > doing before shelling out thousands of dollars, potentially > (I do need to eat and drink a glass of wine occasionally). > > I totally agree that any handmade lute is worth the money and the artists > who make them deserve the money. > Naively I thought there were factory made lutes (like guitars) > that one could buy to start out with. > Now I know better, > and will be patient, > and decide and buy when I am sure of where I am going musically...... > > but I secretly wonder...maybe classical guitar is a better and cheaper way > to go...? > > tell me oh lute savants... > is the lute that much better and sexier??? > > thanks so much > > Nebraska Joe > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
