Over the years we’ve had a discussion or two about whether lute/theorbo continuo in larger (or at least less small) ensembles needs to be heard as a discrete sound, as opposed to part of the mix.
A couple of Sundays ago I gave a pre-concert lecture before a performance by the Bach Collegium Japan of four of the six cantatas of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, which was done with 16 singers and a continuo of harpsichord and organ, the latter being an instrument about the size of a car, set up with its ornate back to the audience so that it would not have been obvious to the audience what it was or what the person with his head and shoulders protruding from behind it was doing. As usual, during intermission of the concert I was approached by patrons who told me how entertaining or informative my presentation was (I assume the ones who think I wasted their time avoid me) or had questions about the music or the performance. One of them said he was disappointed because he expected that in a Bach work there would be an organ. I told him the big box in the middle of the stage was an organ. His brow furrowed and he shook his head a little as he said, “Couldn’t hear it.” To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
