I've already very clearly explained how small theorboes (ie up to low
80s) were tuned (and even given sources for tablature) and generally
really can't be bothered to continually repeat myself. However, in case
you personally missed it, I'll do it one more time:
EITHER nominal A or G tuned but with only the first course tuned an
octave down ie highest course is the second at e for an A theorbo or d for
a G theorbo;
OR with first two courses an octave down but at a higher nominal pitch
eg in D like Talbot MS French lesser theorboe for lessons; note that in
this case the highest pitched course is the third at e'.
Interestingly, the fingered string length of this instrument which
belonged to a
M. Crevecoeur(s) and made by 'Sellier' (Sellas?) works out at 76cm -
squarely in the range that some modern players persist in using for a
nominal A or G tuned theorbo with top two courses an octave down!
<<
Yes, I've missed it, sorry about that, so thank you for repeating yourself.
So 76cm works with first two strings down. I think so too. We agree. Both
French and Italians would have come to the same conclusion: first two
strings down works on 76cm. Your issue is French theorbe de piece was in d,
and some modern players use the same string lengths with two first courses
down at a or g. Given a low French pitch (presumably somewhere near 392Hz)
and a high Italian (440/466Hz at places), I see not much difference. If it
works with the strings and your instrument, it works with your strings and
your instrument. There will be a working range of tunings, d and a included.
Anyway, nominal tunings are just naming conventions in a transposing world,
with a floating pitch on top of that!
David
MH
LGS-Europe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
To the benefit of those not interested in a peeing contest but in
theories
on theorbo stringing, as I am, and not in the happy possesion of a list of
historical theorbos stating string length and setup, here's what the guys
are talking about (info taken from one of the Pohlmanns lying around
here):
Atton
1x1, 5x2 = 77,5cm
6x1 = 147cm
Ecco
1x1, 5x2 = 75,5cm
6x1 = 161,5cm
Hoess
6x2 = 80cm
9x1 = 158cm
Kaiser
1x1, 6x2 = 73,1cm
6x1 = 157,6cm
Aman
1x1, 5x2 = 80,9cm
5x2 = 150,4cm
Koch
7x2 = 82,7cm
7x1 = 167,5cm
Langenwalder
6x1 = 76,4cm
8x1 = 141,5cm
Attore
1x1, 5x2 = 73cm
3x2 = 156cm
Attore
6x2 = 65,7cm
8x1 = 152cm
Mascotto
1x3, 4x2 = 74,5cm (original 1x1, 5x2)
6x1 = 158cm
The point here is, as I understand it from the discussion so far, not
their
setup (6+8; 7+7; 8+6) or double versus single strung, but their relative
short stopped strings. Granted that some/many/all instruments are modified
over the years not all figures above are to be taken at face value.
Perhaps
some instruments can be argued not to be therobos. Fine, but I'd say there
are instruments left we would call theorbos that have a stopped string
length of somewhere around 75 to 80cm. And I think enough of these to
assume
there have been more around in the old days. I'm curious too, how were
they
tuned according to you, Martyn?
David
****************************
David van Ooijen
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.davidvanooijen.nl
****************************
To get on or off this list see list information at
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
---------------------------------
Sent from Yahoo! - a smarter inbox.