Martin Shepherd <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear All,
As Jacob's recordings using his Frei instrument demonstrate, there is no reason why one should not play almost any Renaissance lute music on a "long" lute - it's just a question of technique. As a maker, I am constantly beseiged by people who say they cannot possibly play on a string length greater than 58cm, yet want a 10c lute. Difficult stretches are difficult on a 60cm lute, they are still difficult on a 67cm lute. Dear Martin, I agree vehemently here! ;^) One of the benefits that I've found w/ a longer string length is just the opposite of the stretching problem. When trying to play "up the neck" my fingers are often cramped on a smaller instrument. I've found A-lutes very uncomfortable for chords and all but the simplest of runs above the 7th fret. 60cms is okay but the longer mensurs offer a bit of ease and forgiveness as well as a longer ringing tone. Most everything I can play on the tenor fits as well on the 67cm lute for my medium sized hands. Sean -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
