Dear All, I have recently acquired Nigel North's book on continuo. I'm not far through it yet, but he's made a statement in the second chapter that I'd like to ask you all about. He suggests that a continuo player read standard notation for the theorbo (archlute, etc.) rather than tablature. Here's the quote;
"Tablature: Free yourself from this as soon as possible and start thinking in real music. When playing tablature there is less chance of playing well and following the soloist, and you will be less able to be spontaneous and improvise where necessary." Now I have read standard notation since I was a child, however I have recently started transcribing the music I play with our consort into tablature as it helps me with that instrument. I can still improvise around that and I don't find that I'm hindered in any way by the fact that it's tablature rather than standard notation. To me tablature is just another form of musical notation, having no less of the qualities of standard notation while being specific to the instrument and therefore qualifies to me as "real" music. Further, I have always found it relatively natural, as I play my part, to improvise within the structure of a piece. Of course I have also been a folk, country and jazz musician at various times in my life, not to mention an actor, so improvisation is not a new concept to me regardless of where it's employed. I personally feel that any performance should be equal parts playing what's written and playing outside the box if you will so long as it doesn't distract from the overall desired effect. I am curious then as to your opinions on this particular suggestion of Mr. North's. Do you continuo players read tablature or standard notation? Is this suggestion only related to later period musical styles (17th - 18th c. versus late 16th c.)? Or is this just one man's way of approaching the music and the instruments overall? Thank you for your time. Regards, Craig
