Food for thought ..., or for a comedian’s routine ... (?)
Peter Van Dessel
Belgium
On 05 Oct 2009, at 14:14, theoj89...@aol.com wrote:
All:
After reviewing some lute iconography, it seems that the renaissance
lute was played by more men than women (especially inebriated-
looking Dutch guys), but it seems that the majority of theorbo
players are women. Possible reasons?
*Women are just prettier to paint?
*My statistical sampling is biased?
*Theorbo was considered a 'woman's instrument' and not popular among
'real men'?
*Theorbo was popularly used by women to accompany their own singing?
*Theorbos, theorbo strings, and lessons were expensive, so it was
used as a mark of wealthy status by families?
*The theorbo in painting is used as an allegory to purity (the
enlightenment's version of a Unicorn)?
*Only after mastering the patience needed to keep a gut-strung
theorbo in tune, was a woman considered ready to try her patience on
keeping a husband?
Any ideas?
tedjordan
columbusohioUSA
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