Awesome indeed- Martin's got the best one-stop operation for everything lute anywhere.
67 cm. for a Renaissance lute ought to be a fine size. I owned a 72cm. 8 course "Division Bass" lute in E (A fluctuating between 415 and 430) for years- the acid test for my left hand was the F chord (A flat on a "G" lute), first fret barre, little finger stopping "a", first course 5th fret. I could manage it; but a physically tiresome size in the long run, and really the pitch level was just about 1/2 step too low for many pieces to sound their best. Not the best first choice for one's primary, work horse Renaissance lute. But the sound itself was wonderful- full, sonorous, plenty of sustain with all gut stringing, a narrow Maler-sh body, from the Barber-Harris workshop. Wish I could have afforded to keep it, but my present lute, a serendipitous blessing from Dan Larson, is an 8 course Venere style body at 64 cm. - nicely threading the middle ground between the twitchy, short-sustain alto/small tenor lutes and the bigger, more forgiving but tiresome stretchy low tenor/bass lutes. I would love to have a copy of Martin's C36 lute in 9 courses, with a 10 fret neck. Yes Martin, I think we all like your new lute, and the fine style with which you manage it. Keep up the great work; I've already printed out the piece. Lots of fun. best, Dan >I enjoyed it all; the music, the playing, and the instrument. >Thanks for posting. > >-Ned >On Jan 30, 2011, at 11:18 AM, Martin Shepherd wrote: > > Dear All, > With one day to go, here is January's piece of the month: > www.luteshop.co.uk/month/pieceofthemonth.htm > - played on a new all-gut strung 7c lute (67cm, after Venere C36). >I hope you like it. > >Best wishes, >Martin -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
