Dear Bruno, Well, I didn't really want to start a 7C vs 8c debate, since I get the impression this fairly well-trodden ground for you guys on this list. I have considered an 8-course, in fact it was my initial plan, and can see the attractiveness of its flexibility. But I really feel most attracted to the 16th century repertoire, and it seems to me a 7-course is the best fit to explore it, that is, all the (vast and wonderful) 6-course stuff to Dowland and his contemporaries. I realize that I'll perhaps miss out on some good later stuff, but it's not like I can never ever buy another lute for the rest of my life! I am just getting started, and the 16th century boasts enough great music to repay several lifetimes of study, and I think will satisfy me for some years to come while I learn the instrument. Then perhaps in 5 years or so, when I've advanced to respectable level and will have had plenty of time to expand my tastes, meet other players, try other instruments, etc. I can always in! vest in another instrument if I want to expand my repertoire. If I'm planning to spend time 1) in Dowland's era, and then 2) much more time in the era before Dowland than in the one after him, the trade-offs between 7 and 8 courses seem to come down in favor of 7. At least for me.
I appreciate your advice nonetheless, and indeed I'm in general very impressed in general with how welcoming and kind everyone in the lute world has been to me so far. All the best, Joshua On May 2, 2012, at 6:49 PM, Bruno Fournier wrote: > Hello > > A > > If you haven't yet ordered a lute, I would consider an 8 course, which > in my opinion is more versatile.A It even allows you to cheat and play > 10 course music...A > > A > > Bruno > > On Wed, May 2, 2012 at 11:48 AM, Braig, Eugene <[1][email protected]> > wrote: > > It's beginning to sound like an 8-course might actually better suit > your needs. A While short lived in period, they seem pretty > ubiquitous today. > Best, > Eugene > > -----Original Message----- > From: [2][email protected] > [mailto:[3][email protected]] On Behalf Of Joshua Burkholder > Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 11:40 AM > To: [4][email protected] > Subject: [LUTE] Re-tuning the diapason of a 7c > Dear lute-listers, > A question from a beginner: > First to introduce myself, my name is Joshua and I've been playing the > lute for several months now; I have been on the list for a couple weeks > and am really enjoying following your discussions. I have a rental > 7-course and I am now in the process of taking the plunge and buying a > lute of my own. After much reading, pondering and agonizing over the > best number of courses to start with, I've come to the conclusion that > a 7-course best suits my needs. So onto to my question: > I know that some people re-tune the 7th course from D to F as needed, > but on my rental lute this seems quite impossible. The diapason is > stung to F and if I drop it down to D it becomes far too wobbly and > flabby. From this I assume that if I were to restring it to D, which > I'd prefer on the whole, it would likewise be impossible to raise it to > F. Currently the lute is strung with Pyramid strings so the basses are > metal wound. Is it only possible to change from D to F on the same > string if one uses gut strings (Poulton remarks to this effect in her > tutor that if it's strung to be tuned at D "it will only be possible to > raise it to F if gut strings are used")? Otherwise I have to re-string? > Or does someone use some other stringing solution, besides just keeping > it D and fingering the third fret for F (or buying an 8-course > lute...)? I've read enough about stringing lutes to understand that it > will be a while before I understand anything about stringing lutes... > Thank you for taking the time to help out a newcomer. > Best wishes, > Joshua > To get on or off this list see list information at > [5]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > -- > > A > > Bruno Cognyl-Fournier > > A > > [6]www.estavel.org > > A > > -- > > References > > 1. mailto:[email protected] > 2. mailto:[email protected] > 3. mailto:[email protected] > 4. mailto:[email protected] > 5. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > 6. http://www.estavel.org/ >
