It's a free universe, indeed. And if a lutenist uses these diabolical
tidbits from Satan's workshop because it's the only way he stay on top
of keeping his GUT STRINGS in tune during a performance where he
otherwise would be forced to use SYNTHETIC strings, has not a greater
good been accomplished?
Yes, his eternal soul still hangs in the balance; but in the Book of
Life he is redeemed because the audience has heard music that not only
is in tune (kinda critical, maybe more than the type of string, even)
but the real sound of the true lute.
The over-sustained sitar twang of the early Pyramid overspun basses has
been absolutely the worst lutecrime in my aural experience- the
equivalent of cheap worm-gears on a cigar box guitar. In any case, no
one ever has to "hear" a peg. And if it looks identical to a real peg,
it's not a visual distraction- It's just a damned accessory to make the
MUSIC possible.
Some professionals that I know have had schedules that were so busy that
the sheer amount of even minor tuning resulted in strained fingers &
wrists over extended rehearsal performance sessions (Baroque opera
continuo work); I used to scoff at such weakness until I had that
situation to endure myself, constantly "riding" the pegs to keep the
wayward guts in line under marginal temperature/humidity conditions.
Anything that helps is in order here, again the greater good would
obviously be to keep performance ability uncompromised by "maintenance"
issues.
My only beef with the pegheads is strictly personal- that they don't
benefit anything that I now do, or can foresee doing in the future, on
the instruments I now own- and they put me- the player, no-one else- a
remove away from what I want to feel in my ordinary tuning/lute handling
experience, even slowing me down.
But I am so glad that my Baroque lute student, due to arrive here in
about an hour, has those darn pegheadz on HIS 24 string Burkholtzer copy
because guess who has to tune it up for him- and still have time for a
lesson!
End of rant.
Dan
On 5/29/2015 6:46 AM, Christopher Wilke wrote:
Sterling,
The last time I checked, it was still the prerogative of every musician to
set up his or her instrument in whatever manner is deemed best to accomplish
their personal artistic goals.
Best,
Chris
Dr. Christopher Wilke D.M.A.
Lutenist, Guitarist and Composer
www.christopherwilke.com
--------------------------------------------
On Thu, 5/28/15, sterling price<spiffys84...@cs.dartmouth.edu> wrote:
So I suppose the
next step is to graduate to metal frets and synthetic
strings, since they also have no fuss...
S
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