Thanks, all, for an informative discussion of lute sizes and their relative merits. For me, at least, things I hadn't realized or even thought about. On Jan 31, 2011, at 7:44 PM, Daniel Winheld wrote:
> 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
