For those of you into comparing lutes, the best event is the LSA's Lute
Tasting. This is always a part of the festivities at our seminar at
Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio - end of June in
2010. Last time there were 2 sessions - one for renaissance and one
for baroque and the same player played the same piece on all the
similar lutes (I think it was O'Dette and Barto mostly), giving their
opinions on the instrument. This is a golden opportunity for luthiers
to show their wares to a lot of pprospective buyers in one palce.
Nancy
Speaking from the point of view of someone who has on occasion
organized one of these things, noise is a big problem that the
presenters choose to ignore.
The "softies" have to form a group, ask for a separate room, and
have
breakout rooms.
This is true , however on this occasion it could be quite easly
organised. Some had their quiet booth. George Stevens had his stand
in the side corridor (very quiet and good acoustics!). There was no
problem in hearing his lutes (I've played some of them). The
corridor was long enough to fit more lute makers.
I think they should all just suit up in armor and duke it out. The
bagpipes will win, but they win anyway.
Even better--lutes, harps and viols should organize their own event.
This is an excelent idea to be able to compare several lutes from
different lute makers in one place. I am looking forward to it.
Jaroslaw
dt
At 10:17 AM 11/14/2009, you wrote:
All that Dana says, as usual, is true, but it's also true that
even at
it's beginning there was not much of a lute presence at the BEMF
exhibition. I was there as an employee, moving in Hubbard
Harpsichords
and manning the booth. Of course, I don't have total recall, but
I
remember being disappointed in the dearth of (finger-)plucked
offerings.
Best to all,
Chris.
>>> <[email protected]> 11/14/2009 11:04 AM >>>
Unfortunatly, there are some harsh economic realities involved in
renting
a table at events like the BEMF. You have to man the table,
staff
doing
so need accommodation and food, and are not producing work in
your
shop.
If your shop is selling smaller instruments such as recorders and
bagpipes
you have a reasonable expectation of paying off the table, and
can look
forward to some increased interest in the shop in months to
come. If
your
product is something more substantial, valued at the price of a
used
car,
then its harder to find customers. Its hardest for the
periodical or
society to recover the cost of a table, eve when manned by
volunteers.
IF you dont have a sale or two the table rent is a hefty
uncompensated
business expense. Then you have the time spent not building, the
aching
back from crashing on a friends floor, or the expensive hotel
room; and
the food moneys eating out.
Retail stores selling early music and instruments have product
that
will
appeal to thin wallets - new music, a tin whistle or plastic
recorder,
perhaps a reed or some lapping thread; as well as more
substantial
items
for show or (rarely) actual sale to stimulate future interest.
There are some few folk make a tour of the summer 'renaissance'
festivals,
and large events like the pennsic war ([1]www.SCA.org,
[2]www.pennsic.org );
but
I suspect for the lutenist its events where the focus is on
playing
lute
in ensemble where you have the best chance to survey instruments.
--
Dana Emery
To get on or off this list see list information at
[1][3] http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
--
References
1. [4]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute
Nancy Carlin Associates
P.O. Box 6499
Concord, CA 94524 USA
phone 925/686-5800 fax 925/680-2582
web site - [5]www.nancycarlinassociates.com
Representing:
FROM WALES - Robin Huw Bowen, Crasdant & Carreg Lafar, FROM ENGLAND -
Jez Lowe & Jez Lowe & The Bad Pennies, FROM SPAIN - La Musgana and now
representing EARLY MUSIC - The Venere Lute Quartet, Paul Beier & The
Good Pennyworths
Administrator THE LUTE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
web site - [6]http://LuteSocietyofAmerica.org
--
References
1. http://www.sca.org/
2. http://www.pennsic.org/
3. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
4. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute
5. http://www.nancycarlinassociates.com/
6. http://lutesocietyofamerica.org/
