Well thanks for the enlarged image - but it doesn't give us a clearer
picture of the instrument - for example we can't see the sound holes or the
bridge. In fact it is not entirely clear whether it is the front of back
view of the
instrument.
It also seems to bear very little resemblance to Stradivarius guitars from
the late 17th century if that is relevant.
If we are talking the middle of the 16th century it could be any sort of
experimental viol. As far as the shape is concerned it's not that different
from the shape of a violin. The lirone has the pegs stuck through the head
like the 5-course guitar and so do some bowed medieval instruments. As we
all know the vihuela could be bowed or plucked and possible iillustrations
it are variable in shape.
Another thing which occurs to me is - has the carving been restored at any
time?. It looks in pretty good nick if it has been there for 450 years.
The problem with all these artifacts is that it is difficult to know whether
they are still in their original state and for that matter how accurate a
representation of the instrument it was in the first place.
It would be interesting to know what other instruments are illustrated on
the frieze if that is what it is. Why of all things should the sculptor
have chosen a 4-course guitar? The two wind instruments look a bit iffy to
me.
By all means let's have a vote on it - but I wouldn't stake my life on it
being a 4-course guitar. Or a 4-course chitarra.
It is easy to jump to conclusions - it obviously hadn't occured to you to
consider other possible identities since you are so suprised by my
suggestion.
Monica
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alexander Batov" <[email protected]>
To: "Monica Hall" <[email protected]>
Cc: "Lutelist" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 4:23 PM
Subject: [LUTE] Re: 4 course guitar in Italy
How do I know? Well, because it would hardly ever occur to me that the
instrument with such a distinctive body and peg head shape, number of
strings, and in the place and time to be played with a bow. But if that's
not a problem for you, make of it what you will, it's entirely your
choice. I wonder who else might have had some similar idea on this list, I
might be astonished to know?! Or we could have a vote ... "bowed or not"
...
By the way, the illustration is from this book: "La chitarra Giustiniani
Antonio Stradivari 1681", Gianpaolo Gregori, Cremona: Consorzio Liutai e
Archettai Antonio Stradivari, 1998
I'm not sure if writing to the author and suggesting your alternative
interpretation would be a good idea though.
In the mean time, here is a separate page with a larger image of the
fragment under discussion:
http://www.vihuelademano.com//current/pages/4course-guitar-Italy-c.1560.htm
Alexander
On 29/01/2013 14:39, Monica Hall wrote:
How do you know that this instrument is a 4-course guitar. There is no
way of telling as far as I can see that is intended to be plucked rather
than played with a bow.
As ever
Monica
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