In modern terms, the ms. is neither for the guitar nor for the mandora,
but
for archguitar (see http://youtu.be/CNJaYInbbhs), as you can see on p.
48v.
The required instrument has 12 (twelve) courses. The headline nevertheless
reads: Accordo Cytharræ et Mandoræ.
As far as I could make out the manuscript includes a variety of material -
some in staff notation, some for 5-course guitar and some a theorboed
guitar.
Provided the required instrument existed, this clarifies that there were
mandoras with up to 12 courses.
5-course instruments with additional open bass courses certainly existed.
There is music for such an instrument in Granata's 1659 book which is what
Rob plays on the you-tube clip.
Granata's instrument was actually guitar shaped.
However it is not clear whether other instruments with this configuaration
had lute shaped or guitar shaped bodies.
An article on this subject which I wrote is in Early Music for February 2011
and it included the picture of Granata's instrument. I wasn't aware of
this source at the time.
Monica
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