On Feb 15, 2012, at 9:20 AM, David R wrote:
> I was talking to someone the other day about viol fretting, specifically:
> using old strings as fret gut. Along with some information on that, he sent
> me this quote from Dowland. He didn't specify John or Robert:
>
> "therefore doe this; let the two first frets neerest the head of the
> Instrument (being the greatest) be of the size of your Countertenor, then the
> third and fourth frets must be of the size of your great Meanes : the fift
> and sixt frets of the size of your small Meanes : and all the rest sized with
> Trebles. These rules serue also for Viols, or any other kinde of Instrument
> whereon frets are tyed."
>
> I'm not familiar with the terms "countertenor," "great meanes" or "small
> means." I assume Dowland is referring to lute strings, but can anyone tell
> me which courses he's referring to?
I don't know the answer offhand, but the quote is from John D's preface to A
Varietie of Lute Lessons ("Other Necessary Observations belonging to the Lute")
on page "E." If you don't have Varietie, you can download a pdf here:
http://www.shipbrook.net/jeff/bookshelf/details.html?bookid=40
Your quote on is on page 16 of the pdf, so your question is presumably answered
before that.
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