dear Martin, dear all,
In fact, accepting to play at modern pich A = 440 Hz with the maximum string
lengh possible with this pitch AND modern strings comes to that critical
size of 67 cm for the
strings lenght.
Most of he archlute original repertoire is (just) playable with this string
lenght.
In fact the Roman archlute used with lower pitch had a greater string
lenght. but <78 cm (Harz etc...)
We don't forget the role of the string tension we prefer, and its
consequences upon stringing AND sound AND playing technique. (to have a
lower densitie enlarges the diameter spectrum for the trebles, it's the
contrary for the basses)
My compromises with historicity and mostly having a very good instrument
reward me with such a lot of musical pleasures, in solo or Ensemble Music
that, from my point of view, I can't be
so innaccurate ...
This comparative Video on the Ukulele is very useful to choose lute strings
too. Thank's Anthony for the link...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin Shepherd" <[email protected]>
To: "Lute List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 3:55 PM
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Carbon strings + Titanium Nylon?
Dear All,
On 07/10/2010 13:52, François Pizette wrote:
Dear Anthony, and allI was one of these two french luthenists.In fact
Titanium nylon trebles is my best solution to have a great tensile
strengh and an easy to handle diameter, so a lower density is the most
important thing. My aim is to play on my "classical" archlute by Gyorgy
Lorinczi according with my personal choice of a 67 cm string lenght in
Ensemble Music at modern pitch A =440Hz with the first course doubled.A
very good surprise is the smootheness of the contact and an easier
expressivity compared with Perlon or Nylon.Nylgut and gut would
breakCarbon would be too thin.Please Excuse my ...English Original
message:[LUTE] Re: Carbon strings + Titanium Nylon?Anthony HindTue, 05
Oct 2010 06:26:03 -0700
I felt I just had to comment on this. It may well be that Titanium nylon
is the only way that Francois can get a 67cm archlute up to G at a'=440,
especially with a double first, but what is the point?
17th C archlutes were indeed about 67cm string length and used gut strings
for which the highest practical pitch was about a'=392 or possibly lower.
It follows that the ensembles in which they played must have used these
low pitches. Incidentally this is one area in which lutenists have an
important role to play in informing any debates about historical pitch
standards - the modern standard "baroque = 415" is as unhistorical as
anything else.
For me, the music is what is important, not the "historical accuracy" - so
matters of tempo, phrasing and articulation are easily more important than
whether or not you use gut strings, or what pitch you play at. That does
not diminish my fascination with what this music *might* have sounded
like, an enterprise which is very much concerned with things like pitch
and string materials.
For modern performances we can use whatever instruments and materials we
like, but we don't see too many electric guitars in early music ensembles
because they might frighten the public - so I think there's a danger of
dishonesty here as well. Apparently there are some ensembles who are
happy to use "historical-looking" instruments but are unwilling to play at
a pitch other than 440 and as a result have to make all sorts of nasty
compromises. I'm not joking about the electric guitar - why not use it?
Best wishes to all, and sympathies to Francois who is obliged to suffer
these indignities,
Martin
To get on or off this list see list information at
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin Shepherd" <[email protected]>
To: "Lute List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 3:55 PM
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Carbon strings + Titanium Nylon?
Dear All,
On 07/10/2010 13:52, François Pizette wrote:
Dear Anthony, and allI was one of these two french luthenists.In fact
Titanium nylon trebles is my best solution to have a great tensile
strengh and an easy to handle diameter, so a lower density is the most
important thing. My aim is to play on my "classical" archlute by Gyorgy
Lorinczi according with my personal choice of a 67 cm string lenght in
Ensemble Music at modern pitch A =440Hz with the first course doubled.A
very good surprise is the smootheness of the contact and an easier
expressivity compared with Perlon or Nylon.Nylgut and gut would
breakCarbon would be too thin.Please Excuse my ...English Original
message:[LUTE] Re: Carbon strings + Titanium Nylon?Anthony HindTue, 05
Oct 2010 06:26:03 -0700
I felt I just had to comment on this. It may well be that Titanium nylon
is the only way that Francois can get a 67cm archlute up to G at a'=440,
especially with a double first, but what is the point?
17th C archlutes were indeed about 67cm string length and used gut strings
for which the highest practical pitch was about a'=392 or possibly lower.
It follows that the ensembles in which they played must have used these
low pitches. Incidentally this is one area in which lutenists have an
important role to play in informing any debates about historical pitch
standards - the modern standard "baroque = 415" is as unhistorical as
anything else.
For me, the music is what is important, not the "historical accuracy" - so
matters of tempo, phrasing and articulation are easily more important than
whether or not you use gut strings, or what pitch you play at. That does
not diminish my fascination with what this music *might* have sounded
like, an enterprise which is very much concerned with things like pitch
and string materials.
For modern performances we can use whatever instruments and materials we
like, but we don't see too many electric guitars in early music ensembles
because they might frighten the public - so I think there's a danger of
dishonesty here as well. Apparently there are some ensembles who are
happy to use "historical-looking" instruments but are unwilling to play at
a pitch other than 440 and as a result have to make all sorts of nasty
compromises. I'm not joking about the electric guitar - why not use it?
Best wishes to all, and sympathies to Francois who is obliged to suffer
these indignities,
Martin
To get on or off this list see list information at
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
