Thomas, Thanks for the answer. I had read of those numerics for the intervals, but had forgotten (a function of being aged). So it seems you are saying that the continuo is a bass line with indications of the intervals one may add on top of that line. That sounds like an early form of a "fake book" (oh, will I get nailed on that one). A main line against the melody, and a chord structure to complement it as desired (the interval figures) - whereas the "fake book" gives the chords to be played, with no indication of the appropriate inversions. So the continuo has more information, as it shows a line. But a good ear should be able to work that out from the chording and make the appropriate inversions.
Am I close? Best, Jon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Schall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 7:05 AM Subject: Re: Continuo I haven't seen somebody's answering your email. Continuo is the abbreviation for basso continuo which means figured bass. It actually is exactly this, a base part with additional numbers telling you the intervals which you should play in addition to the bass note (and usually there is always a 3 to add - that makes the fun out of it: some numbers you need to add others are better to omit because they don't go well along with the lute part). Continuo can be plyed on any instrument. If there is a group of instruments sharing the continuo then it could be possible for higehr pitched instruments to play just the figures and omit the bass. But in any case the bass part has to be played within the group by somebody. Best wishes Thomas Am Sonntag, 6. März 2005 04:55 schrieb Jon Murphy: > Alright, I confess again to a lack of knowledge. Can someone define > continuo? My musical dictionary defines it as an abbreviation for basso > continuo (see figured bass). I don't go by dictionarys, but it would seem > that the term means the playing of a polyphonic line to complement the > melody, perhaps as a rhythmic base, as well as bass, in concert. It would > seem that any instrument that fits would fit. In my harp ensemble I often > play a steady bass when I'm not familiar enough with the piece. Is that > continuo? Must it be in a lower register, or could it be just a steady form > to carry the melody, and divisions. I ask. > > Best, Jon > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- Thomas Schall Niederhofheimer Weg 3 D-65843 Sulzbach 06196/74519 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
