For those of you into comparing lutes, the best event is the LSA's Lute Tasting. This is always a part of the festivities at our seminar at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio - end of June in 2010. Last time there were 2 sessions - one for renaissance and one for baroque and the same player played the same piece on all the similar lutes (I think it was O'Dette and Barto mostly), giving their opinions on the instrument. This is a golden opportunity for luthiers to show their wares to a lot of pprospective buyers in one palce. Nancy
Speaking from the point of view of someone who has on occasion organized one of these things, noise is a big problem that the presenters choose to ignore. The "softies" have to form a group, ask for a separate room, and have breakout rooms. This is true , however on this occasion it could be quite easly organised. Some had their quiet booth. George Stevens had his stand in the side corridor (very quiet and good acoustics!). There was no problem in hearing his lutes (I've played some of them). The corridor was long enough to fit more lute makers. I think they should all just suit up in armor and duke it out. The bagpipes will win, but they win anyway. Even better--lutes, harps and viols should organize their own event. This is an excelent idea to be able to compare several lutes from different lute makers in one place. I am looking forward to it. Jaroslaw dt At 10:17 AM 11/14/2009, you wrote: All that Dana says, as usual, is true, but it's also true that even at it's beginning there was not much of a lute presence at the BEMF exhibition. I was there as an employee, moving in Hubbard Harpsichords and manning the booth. Of course, I don't have total recall, but I remember being disappointed in the dearth of (finger-)plucked offerings. Best to all, Chris. >>> <dem...@suffolk.lib.ny.us> 11/14/2009 11:04 AM >>> Unfortunatly, there are some harsh economic realities involved in renting a table at events like the BEMF. You have to man the table, staff doing so need accommodation and food, and are not producing work in your shop. If your shop is selling smaller instruments such as recorders and bagpipes you have a reasonable expectation of paying off the table, and can look forward to some increased interest in the shop in months to come. If your product is something more substantial, valued at the price of a used car, then its harder to find customers. Its hardest for the periodical or society to recover the cost of a table, eve when manned by volunteers. IF you dont have a sale or two the table rent is a hefty uncompensated business expense. Then you have the time spent not building, the aching back from crashing on a friends floor, or the expensive hotel room; and the food moneys eating out. Retail stores selling early music and instruments have product that will appeal to thin wallets - new music, a tin whistle or plastic recorder, perhaps a reed or some lapping thread; as well as more substantial items for show or (rarely) actual sale to stimulate future interest. There are some few folk make a tour of the summer 'renaissance' festivals, and large events like the pennsic war ([1]www.SCA.org, [2]www.pennsic.org ); but I suspect for the lutenist its events where the focus is on playing lute in ensemble where you have the best chance to survey instruments. -- Dana Emery To get on or off this list see list information at [1][3] http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. [4]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute Nancy Carlin Associates P.O. Box 6499 Concord, CA 94524 USA phone 925/686-5800 fax 925/680-2582 web site - [5]www.nancycarlinassociates.com Representing: FROM WALES - Robin Huw Bowen, Crasdant & Carreg Lafar, FROM ENGLAND - Jez Lowe & Jez Lowe & The Bad Pennies, FROM SPAIN - La Musgana and now representing EARLY MUSIC - The Venere Lute Quartet, Paul Beier & The Good Pennyworths Administrator THE LUTE SOCIETY OF AMERICA web site - [6]http://LuteSocietyofAmerica.org -- References 1. http://www.sca.org/ 2. http://www.pennsic.org/ 3. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 4. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute 5. http://www.nancycarlinassociates.com/ 6. http://lutesocietyofamerica.org/