> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 10:28:36 -0400 > To: "'vihuela list'" <vihuela@cs.dartmouth.edu> > Subject: [VIHUELA] Re: Icon alert -- vihuela in newly-recovered Valencia > Cathedral fresco > > Roger wrote: > >> Well, you're entitled to your interpretations. I'm not sure how you're >> coming to think _metal_ strings though. I have thought that I've been seeing >> "single strings" for quite some time in some other pictures but I haven't >> made an issue of it -- I have other battles to fight ;'). > > Ok, clearly you're offended by any dissenting discussion here. I > thought we were having an interesting and friendly discussion to > determine what the instrument in fact was. If I gave offense I > apologize. My intent was not to argue but to discuss and thereby > learn more. Since you wish to call it a vihuela and to discount any > contradiction I'll keep my opinions to myself from now on, though I > think your supposition that the "rose" rises above the sound board is > unfounded as such a thing would definitely brush against the strings > and, in my opinion, hinder playing. I've never heard of any plucked > string instrument (from period, just so we understand that I'm not > talking about a modern steel guitar or dobro) with such a raised rose. > >> I'm quite satisfied to call it a vihuela or viola -- and a stunner at that! >> There is no one "true" vihuela nor viola -- that should be understood by >> now, yes? > > Yes, but calling it a vihuela doesn't make it so. A guitar is not a > gittern which is not a bandora which is not a vihuela. I'm satisfied > that this instrument is something unique, but not a vihuela in the > sense that we understand what a vihuela is (an entirely different > discussion from what a vihuela isn't). > >> I think you might be getting a little over-analytical. Enjoy the thing, it's >> cool and beautiful! ;-) I'm certain it was a stunning new design to them >> too at the time they were painting it -- very distinct from any recent past >> medieval model, a Corvette to a model-T, racy. Why not call attention to it >> with that big gold rose against the blue starry-sky back-drop. Maybe it's >> doubling as "the moon" (symbolically). > > I am not certain of anything with respect to this instrument. That's > why I ask questions and make speculations. I'm not as comfortable > saying a thing is so if there's some doubt unless I have absolute > certainty. My interpretations of the painting based on my experiences > as a musician lead me to a different conclusion. So be it. For you > it's a vihuela. For me it's a puzzle. I like puzzles, but not so much > "battles". > > Regards, > Craig >
Sorry Craig; I didn't mean to upset you. Just before I received this reply I sent off a rider note with the name of a consulting luthier on the project. Peace Roger To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
