Interesting concerning smaller lutes. This summer I was in Boston and drew up plans of the Berr lute which has been converted to a 13 course baroque lute. However it is smaller than the Frei #34. Stephen Barbber says it was converted from an 11 course to a 13 course, which shows he devoted no time to seriously studying and analyzing the Berr, which he claims to have done. It most certainly started it's life as a 7 or 8 course lute. I think it is a welcome addition to the pre Baroque lutes. Michael Thames Luthier www.ThamesClassicalGuitars.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed Durbrow" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "G.R. Crona" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "lute list" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 7:46 PM Subject: Re: Iconography (was:The Right Hand Revisited)
> >that's why I downloaded Alfonso's collection, although it took ages on my > >old messerschmidt PC. (It's an old Siemens =]) > > But at least those Messerschmidt PCs are nice and compact. :-) > > >What a good idea and fine collection Alfonso! Together with the pictures > >McFeely's posted, it's excellent reference. > > Speaking of which, I couldn't figure out how to download McFeely's > pictures in one swoop. Everything else is in PDF. > > >I thought I had a theory about all those impossible stretches you sometimes > >encounter in the 1500's repertoire, that perhaps those old masters played on > >"small lutes", what we today would call A-lutes, and that is why we have > >such difficulties with doing justice to their music on today's 60 cm. + > >lutes? > > > >PS. Wish I had a teeny-weeny 6 or 7 course A-lute! Anyone who has > >experienced one? > > I'm so glad you mentioned this. I just bought a WONDERFUL John > Rollins alto lute with a string length of 51cm. That was precisely > the thought that went through my mind as I read through stuff. It all > made sense! Of course the pics, as far as I know in my shallow > browsing, don't support the widespread use. In fact, sometimes they > often have huge lutes, but there is a lot that doesn't make sense in > the lute world and iconography. I hope others will chime in on this > thread. > cheers, > -- > Ed Durbrow > Saitama, Japan > http://www9.plala.or.jp/edurbrow/ > >
