Hi Anthony, Yes, this is what I was getting at. There is this general tendency in many stringed instruments to search for the =8Cbreaking point' of the highest string and go from there, even design wise (as in harpsichord building.)
I think this idea crosses countries, periods and many different solo stringed instruments, but that is just my personal view. It is very hard and well neigh impossible for me (please correct me if I am wrong) to find the opposite discussed or written: tuning the overall pitch of an instrument's strings down, much lower than the breaking point of the highest treble string. I simply cannot imagine anyone tuning a stringed instrument a semitone or whole tone below a comfortable breaking point just for the heck of it. To take a relatively short short string length of 68cm and 11 courses and tune it very low just because of the pitch of Hotteterre flutes seems counterintuitive to me, especially with gut.... Sorry for the ranting! Theo From: Anthony Hind <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:16:37 +0100 To: Rob MacKillop <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [BAROQUE-LUTE] Re: Pitch for French music Earlier sources do exist, but they are not French. Do we consider Mace as sufficiently French influenced to count as French? Unfortunately I can't get into this article to see exactly what is said. "THOMAS MACE, he tells you that" When you begin to Tune, raise your treble or. smallest string as high as conveniently it will bear without. breaking," in other words, ... jrma.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/35/1/87.pdf " I notice that French music seems to be leaving the extremes (raising the bass and lowering the top) and focussing more on the mid, so perhaps the principle we hear "tuning the tops string to breaking point " relating to Dowland is no longer applicable here, in French Baroque music. Anthony Le 14 fevr. 08 =E0 12:57, Rob MacKillop a ecrit : >>>> On 14/02/2008, T. Diehl-Peshkur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> For most string instruments, the usual method was to tune the >> highest note >> as high as comfortable, and go from there.<<< > > > > I haven't found a 17th or 18th-century French source for that. Have > you? > Without a quotation to back you up, there is little strength to your > arguement. First of all you say 'MOST string instruments', and then > 'USUAL > method'. What evidence do you have? I don't want to seem as though > I am > attacking you over this, as I'm not. My view is that there is so > little > exacting evidence, that any stance is hard to justify. I also agree > with > David's points. When it comes to solo playing, let your instrument > teach you > what IT wants. If that be 394 or 417, then so be it. > > Rob > > -- > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html --
