In my opinion how it could be used is more important than what you call it. Depending on how you tune a six-course instrument, it could function as a guitar, requinto (actually a "requinto" lute in this case), renaissance lute, a laud, or a mandolino lombardo ottavo.
-----Original Message----- From: Martyn Hodgson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Mar 16, 2005 1:05 AM To: Mathias Rösel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: Lute Net <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Subject: Re: Hoffmann Mandora/Gallichon Thank you for your comments Mathias, but: - are you not aware that guitars were made in lute shape in the 19thC (and in other shapes as well for that matter - eg lyre guitar). - defining a guitar as a 'shallow bodied' instrument is surely asking for trouble - probably better to relate to musical practice - ie lute-guitars and similar played music written for ordinary guitars. Even well into the last century it was possible to buy sheet music asking for 'laute' or 'gitarre'. I have before me an original edition (c 1930) of 'Leonardo de Call/Notturno Op89/fur Flote(Geige), Bratsche and Gitarre(Laute)' published by Chr Friedrich Vieweg /BerlinLichterfelds. Interestingly, the cover has two figures playing Lauten (not Gitarren). I therefore stick to my opinion that this is probably a guitar conversion. You may, of course, hold an entirely different view but perhaps it would be useful to support it with evidence rather than unsubstantiated comment. regards, Martyn "Mathias Rösel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> My view is that it is most likely a guitar guitars have shallow bodies, by definition, or so I'm told. Whatsoever this is, it is not a guitar. >> (or rather late 19thC german lute/guitar) conversion direct from a lute. wandervogel lutes (if that is what you meant to say) have single strings, not courses (i.e. double strings) >> There are numerous examples of 18thC Colachons/mandoras (see Gill et als) indeed. Why so much guesswork if the probable is so obvious. > I would have thought so, if not for the pegbox, which is rather elegant, and > entirely uncharacteristic of the Wandervogels. yes, indeed. -- Regards, Mathias -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com --
