Franz,
No need to be defensive right from the get-go. Although some loud voices
might not make it obvious right away, many of us on this list are quite
open-minded and ready to give alternate ways a try. You also might be
surprised to find that many of the "experts" on the list who speak with such
confidence and self-assurance in all matters of Great Importance are little
more advanced than yourself. Don't let them shout you down.
I have to confess that I have never had occasion to hear or play a Liuto
Forte in person, so I can't speak about it at all. If the chance presented
itself, I would certainly give it a go. And I'm not looking down on your for
playing one. If ya like it, go for it. (I'm doing a radio broadcast today of
19th century Christmas carols I arrange for solo theorbo. Is anyone going to
sue me for being unhistorical?)
As may be expected, lute players are fairly conservative in their ways. I
feel like many players don't take full advantage of the range of colors and
dynamics present in the regular lute. This is not easy to do, but to a certain
extent, I think its intentional. Many players have a tonal ideal that is a
"once upon a time in days of yore" type of thing. Fine, if they like it, but
this doesn't reflect the historical record.
Its very clear that olden players used many different types of setups and
playing techniques, which would have produced a dazzling variety of tonal
effects, but we hear only a narrow range of this today. (My Widhalm lute, for
example, has fan barring, like the original. Play it by the bridge and its
quite loud.) If our idea of what a lute sounds like is determined by the
delicate "fairytale" way of playing, then the Liuto Forte is needed. If we
look broaden our attitudes a little, we might be able to be heard without
playing barogue guitar in the Vespers.
Chris
--- On Sat, 12/19/09, Franz Mechsner <franz.mechs...@northumbria.ac.uk> wrote:
> From: Franz Mechsner <franz.mechs...@northumbria.ac.uk>
> Subject: [LUTE] Liuto forte
> To: "David van Ooijen" <davidvanooi...@gmail.com>, "Lute list"
> <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>
> Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 8:38 AM
> Von: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu
> im Auftrag von David van Ooijen
> Gesendet: Sa 19.12.2009 14:01
> An: Lute list
>
> But I'm sure there are some
> listers eager to start a discussion on
> the liuto forte (again).
>
> --------------------
>
> Beware: Do not read if you only talk to
> experts... I am an amateur and
> beginner, serious and eager to learn...
> but I am used to ask and
> discuss until I am really convinced...
> for the time being...
>
> This is certainly, and understandably a
> problem for people who are
> experts and want only to talk to experts,
> but how can a democratic
> discussion work with beginners and
> amateurs being excluded? And after
> all, more often than not expertise is the
> art to err according to
> rules..
>
>
> Ok. Thanks David.
> I am trembling with fear... hope my dear
> and admired lute teacher is
> not on the list... but I have to admit
> that I am owing a LIUTO FORTE (9
> strings). Because I love the sound,
> especially if played with finder
> pad (not appreciated by Andre
> Burguete...) and now and then prefer it
> to the renaissance lute which I also owe.
> Two days before I played some
> renaissance pieces on the Liuto Forte,
> alternating with a actress who
> recited some of Shakespeare's sonettes.
> It was only a christmas party,
> but not unserious... The reaction was
> unexpectedly overwhelming with
> MANY people being extremely touched and
> excited by the lovely sound of
> the instrument! (I did not ask for
> feedback at all - but people came to
> me and their joy with the music and love
> of the instrument was
> obvious!)
>
> I see what is going on the list here:
> people - who are admeittedly
> hundert times better and learned than I
> am - launch extremely
> fine-grained and sophisticated arguments
> in favour of "original" (but
> actually not so original) lutes, original
> (but actually not so
> original) gut or nylgut strings,
> "original" (but obviously not so
> original) interpretations... I have only
> my sensitivity and taste, more
> natural than sophisticated probably, but
> who can say that it is in
> every respect less worth than the
> so-called experts' sensitivity and
> taste? You cannot give you up and leave
> everything to the pope(s), even
> as a beginner and amateur... So what is
> so terrible with the liuto
> forte - in renaissance and baroque times
> innovation was the rule...
> imagine that in 200 years from now a a
> discussion on a "jazz list" will
> try to find out about the "historically
> correct" interpretation of
> Herbie Hancock in the manner of this lute
> list... and actually I know
> EXPERTS who appreciate at least the power
> of tiorba forte in playing
> basso continuo...
>
> I teach my students: question the experts
> - what everybody believes has
> a good chance of being wrong and
> misguided... but you have to be open
> to learn... no need to appreciate a
> beginner's musings, but I REALLY
> want to learn, and how can that take
> place without asking and enerving
> the experts...
>
> :-)
>
> Franz
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
> Dr. Franz Mechsner
> Hanse Institute for Advanced Study
> Lehmkuhlenbusch 4
> D-27753 Delmenhorst/Bremen
> GERMANY
>
> E-mail: [1]franz.mechs...@unn.ac.uk
> Phone: +49 (0)4221 9160-215
> Fax: +49 (0)4221 9160-179
>
> __________________________________________________________________
>
> --
>
> References
>
> 1. mailto:franz.mechs...@unn.ac.uk
>
>
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