On Jul 23, 2005, at 5:51 AM, Edward Martin wrote: > In order to make this situation (playing with technique shown on > icongraphical sources) work, one needs a light tension. With heavier > tension played very close to the bridge, one gets a brittle sound. > But,. > with slack strings, the results are very clear and beautiful.
I haven't heard the recordings. Wouldn't the construction of original Baroque lutes tell us something about the tension? It should tell us where the upper limit is anyway, right? Is the bracing and thickness of the tops on original instruments such that they are lower than the reconstructions luthiers are making these days? It wouldn't make sense to build an instrument and then put strings on at 60% of what it was designed for, would it? Do you know if Toyohiko's lute was extra-lightly constructed? cheers, -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
