Absolutely! And let's not forget that perhaps most (if not, indeed, all)
'professional' lutenists from c. 1600 on also played chitarrone /
theorbo and guitar where thumb-out is simply far more superior for the
sheer flexibility of it, for a wider variety of sound dynamics and of
tone colour that it allows to produce by shifting the hand towards and
away from the bridge. How could all this be taken away from at least 150
years of lute and guitar playing (i.e. c. 1600 - 1750) is difficult to
imagine, if only thumb-in had remained ...
Alexander
Robison, John wrote:
Hi everyone,
Just a few comments to add:
In addition to Dowland, Gregory Howet also played thumb-out; my
ancient article on Sebastian Ochsenkuhn (American Lute Society Journal,
1982) points out that Ochsenkuhn (1558) is seen playing thumb out
(perhaps because his lute looks pretty large), and Bakfark is also
shown playing thumb out. I have played both ways (with no guitar
background), and I think that thumb out is just as good (sometimes
better) for the repertory c. 1600 . . .
John O. Robison
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