Dear Martyn,
I don't really want to speculate why Morley's songs are in the keys they are. The aim of my message was simply to make people aware, if they were not already, that "It was a lover and his lass" is much easier to play and sing when transposed down a tone from the printed pitch. Best wishes, Stewart. -----Original Message----- From: Martyn Hodgson [mailto:hodgsonmar...@yahoo.co.uk] Sent: 05 December 2011 10:45 To: Stewart McCoy Subject: Re: [LUTE] Transposing lute tablature on sight Dear Stewart, But isn't it interesting that, if Morley did write the original in staff notation and the piece was then intabulated, this particular key was choosen? Or is the suggestion that whoever did it didn't think it mattered whatever key they put it in because the lutenist would transpose (on sight.....). Why would they do this if they expected to generate sales? - or are you also suggesting that any 'experienced' lutenist at the time could transpose intabulated lute songs on sight? rgds Martyn --- On Mon, 5/12/11, Stewart McCoy <lu...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote: From: Stewart McCoy <lu...@tiscali.co.uk> Subject: [LUTE] Transposing lute tablature on sight To: "Lute Net" <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Date: Monday, 5 December, 2011, 10:03 Dear David, To confirm what you say, Morley's oft-requested "It was a lover and his lass" is fearfully difficult for the lutenist to play at the printed pitch, but it works a treat transposed down a tone. It also helps singers who don't like singing top g", and my ears which don't like hearing top g". Best wishes, Stewart McCoy. -----Original Message----- From: [1]lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:[2]lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On Behalf Of David van Ooijen Sent: 04 December 2011 19:09 To: lute Subject: [LUTE] Re: Transposing lute tablature on sight On 4 December 2011 19:58, David Tayler <[3]vidan...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: > especially Airs to Cour but also English lute songs, and here down a > tone is the most common, followed by up a tone. I've noticed some lute songs become easier down a tone. Particularly Morley songs. I always wondered about his songs - were they written a tone lower but publisehd a tone up? Funny, that. David To get on or off this list see list information at [4]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. http://us.mc817.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu 2. http://us.mc817.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu 3. http://us.mc817.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=vidan...@sbcglobal.net 4. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
