Dear Dan,

I can't see any parallel fifths. The passage in outline (treble and bass
only) is as follows:

  |\  |\     |\          |\          |
  |   |\     |           |\          |
  |.  |\     |           |           |
__a_______________d_________d__c__a____
______d__b___a________|______________e_
______________________|________________
______________________|________________
______________________|__d___________c_
__a___________________|________________

It is true that the treble is a fifth above the bass (a2 above a6) half
way through the first bar, and is also a fifth above the bass (d1 above
d5) at the start of the second bar, but the treble moves to b flat (d1)
before moving to the E flat major chord in bar 2. That's not parallel
fifths.

This would be parallel fifths:

  |\  |\     |           |\          |
  |   |\     |           |\          |
  |.  |\     |           |           |
__a______________________d__d__c__a____
______d__b___a________|______________e_
______________________|________________
______________________|________________
______________________|__d___________c_
__a___________________|________________

but that isn't what Dowland wrote.

If you really want to see Dowland break the rules in Lachrimae, look at
the inner parts of the LOST setting, and you'll spot an augmented
second, acceptable now, but not at the time of Dowland.

Best wishes,

Stewart McCoy.




-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Daniel Winheld
Sent: 23 February 2010 00:05
To: [email protected]
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Dowland's "Lachrimae"




>somehow I have a blind spot: I still dont see the fifths!).

I think going from the last chord in the first measure (low open G, 
still providing bass note from 3rd beat with open 2nd course d) 
-moving to first chord of 2nd measure, E-flat b-flat e chord. G-d to 
E-flat-b-flat are parallel fifths. Never quite liked the sound of it 
myself, but always played it anyway being the incurious blockhead I 
am; who was I to correct an "original" text? But of course it's 
corrected in the LoST and in the Dd.2.11. Much nicer sounding that 
way. By the way, I think I found an error in Ron's that I just 
downloaded- 9th measure- first measure of repeat, last chord- b, 4th 
fret 1st course against the fingered b on 2nd fret 3rd- should be g 
on the fourth course or possibly fingered e on 2nd to match first 
strain- but that sounds empty. Playing both g and e with the high b 
makes a very nice chord- but the two "b's" sound bad to me. I could 
postulate improper parallel octaves from the 3rd course c on third 
beat with first course c on fourth beat, and they both move down to 
the b's- but I await word from the experts...

Dan

>I was going to record
>'Last Will and Testament' by Holborne for our latest Death and Life
>CD. It was a live recording, I prepared really well, lived with the
>piece for weeks, loved it, played it in several concerts before the
>big day. But failed. It really is a 7-course piece, and on the
>10-course I used it was beyond me. So, after the first day day, we had
>two recorded concerts from which we choose the best takes, I decided
>to change plan. Next day I played Lachrimae and that made it to the
>CD.
>
>I love the LoST versions.
>
>David - played Solus cum Sola in concert last week. Funny piece, that.
>

-- 



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