"I don't see how it's substantially different from any other instrument's repetoire. . ."
I don't think it's denigrating to any instrument to accept that there are very substantial differences in both quantity and quality between it's repetoire and that of other instuments. The reason I switched from the lute to the cello many years ago was because - having enjoyed early ensemble music - I wanted to explore more recent ensemble music, especially the string quartet. The reason I've returned to the lute is that I now want to explore the wonderful solo repetoire for the lute (comparatively speaking, there ain't a lot for cello). Playing the lute, I never experienced anything like the late Beethoven quartets. Playing the cello, I never experienced anything like Dowland lute songs or solos. Not playing the piano, I'll never experience anything like the Brahms sonatas. . . Ned -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html