Dear List, I really do not mean to start some sort of "war", but I noticed that more and more theorboes in YouTube videos and/or pictures (and concerts...) are built with eight single strings + six basses.
While I certainly understand that an f# can happen (at least to us) apparently out of nowhere, I do not know of any historically surviving theorbo with that configuration. To get even worse, I am not sure to be aware of surviving instruments in a 7 single courses + 7 basses setup, are you? (I play a 7 + 7, anyway) Talking about the Chitarrone / XVII c. Theorbo (therefore keeping aside the French theorbo or the "thA(c)orbe A la Maltot" with 8 courses + 6 basses, as mentioned by FranAS:ois Campion in 1716 / 1730) I know the iconographical evidence for 6 single courses or 6 double courses, but honestly I couldn't find ANY painting showing a seven single courses theorbo like mine, not to mention an eight single courses instrument. Any hint, suggestion and/or direction to follow? Thank you in advance, Luca -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
