> In its widest sense, the theorbo simply means a lute based on > either a bass lute or a renaissance lute with an extended neck. > However, even as I write this, I know that there are those who > will of course disagree.
I wonder who would disagree, as this simpl= y is the widest possible definition. Theorbo lute with extended neck. > were around twelve types of theorbo historically, many of those have Twelve types of use of the name, you meant to say, I take it? > One point that you make concerning the tuning: I don't believe that it > is possible to determine the tuning of an original instrument--for one > thing, there were many tunings and many pitches. Hm... what about a Tieffenbrucker 7c (IIRC) with 44cm vibrating string length? 6c Hieber 58 cm? 14c Sellas 65cm (fretboard)? You can come close to plausible guesses for relative tunings, at least. > Lastly, I must addd that even though the modern references are in > agreement about the erzlaute, I'm sorry? > Etymology fo Lute as Arabic for "wood" but this is also > incorrect as the early writers consulted modern Arabic > dictionaries instead of medieval ones. What's wrong with that? 'oud means wood, = even in Qur'anic Arabic. The actual question was whether wood referred to t= he building material of the Oud or to the material of the mizrab (plectrum). Mathias To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
