Just a couple of points of recent history: back some 10 or 15 years ago,
Joel Dugot from the French lute society sent me photocopies he made from
the microfilm copy of the Cherbury L.B. all the way to California - with
the purpose of working on a complete transcription of said manuscript.
At the time, I believe John Robinson had gone as far as transcribing
about 20 or 30 pieces. I produced some scanned copies from the xerox
copies I received from Joel - the ones that ended up on Sarge Gerbode's
site - and was extremely lucky to get help from Miles Dempster and
several French lutenists/transcribers. We finally completed the
transcription of 240 pieces in the early 2000s, a work that took me
several years to set up, sort out, etc. The quality of the copies is
debatable verging on barely legible, but at leats the scans could be
shared among the editors. Furthermore, Herb's transcriptions are
sometimes difficult at best to interpret - particularly the pieces he
composed himself, generally on his birthday. I recently (last week)
refreshed the project on my site, and give access to the transcription,
the facsimiles copies and an authors index with links to each composer's
pieces in the book. This is accessible to everyone with a free account
on the site.
Which leads me to my second set of observations: early on, I tried to
interest the Fitzwilliam librarian in a comprehensive project including
a facsimile edition and new recordings of at least all the unica pieces
in the book -- upon the suggestion of a British well-known lutenist.
That plan fell through when the cost of producing the facsimile turned
out to be prohibitive. I was also asked to put my project on hold
because the British lute society was working on their own edition of the
book: free copies of the black and white facsimile would reduce their
chances of recuperating their cost. Meanwhile the years went past, and
someone put together the individual images on my site bundled in PDF
format.
Photography in the 19th century did not lead to the complete demise of
painting, but it did refocus that art away from its traditional source
of income: portraits. Although this is a bit of a caricature in itself,
I would say photography gave us impressionism, then cubism, and the rest
of Modern movements in the art of painting, by giving us its own version
of realism, widely divergent from the new photographic realism born out
of a new (and cheaper) technology.
I believe we are in a similarly important transition phase when it comes
to WEB publishing versus books. Simply put the two are not even vaguely
similar and each one has its own strength and weaknesses. Far from
reducing the output of books BTW, the use of computers and the WEB have
vastly increased the volume of books published, to the point where
libraries are now dumping books at an unprecedented rate because of
shortage of shelf-space. At this point, millions of books are dependent
for their survival on whatever digital copies were/are made today.
Furthermore, physical books produced beginning in the mid 19th century
are rapidly falling to dust because of their acid content, and that
includes our precious 1980s facsimiles. (Renaissance books by contrast
are generally in admirable pristine condition, as long as they have not
seen the light of day... or been touched by the hands of avid readers
not wearing gloves).
I understand the dilemma faced by the British lute society: publishing
the Cherbury book, with its 240 or so pieces, represents a considerable
investment of time and money, particularly if you had all the goodies
that many people take for granted: hunting for concordances, critical
notes for each piece, etc. At the same time, it seems to me that no
effort is being made to revitalise that type of project by capitalizing
on the tools of the day. Here are some suggestions: set up a WEB site
for all indexes, critical notes, and other supporting documents. This
can be made to be an evolving entity: the WEB is the cheapest updating
tool available. Produce a simple digital copy for digital purposes
only: this can just a down-sized version of the high-quality color
images needed to produce the print copy anyways. Set-up a subscription
system widely targeted at academic and other libraries - offer a
discount for purchasing the print-copy early. Produce a limited set of
sure-to-sell printed copies based on the results of the subscription and
set-up a print-on-demand system. Whip up interest by encouraging
recording artists to highlight the value of the collection - what the
heck write to Sting and ask for help - hold dedicated concerts, offer
pre-subscriptions to the audience. Try to get Paul O'Dette to reissue an
edition of his CD - and maybe a volume 2. Finally make it an
international projects to involve the US lute society and the French
lute society and the Polish lute society. That manuscript has so much to
offer: the pieces by Jacob Polonois, the very unique ones by Hely
Cuthbert, as well as some gems such as Gautier's Adieu Courant,
Despond's Filou, pieces by Bacheler, etc. etc. That manuscript is
uniquely European in nature and it can therefore elicit interest and
help from many angles and sources.
I am personally wary of a single printed edition - even if I recognize
the unique advantages of the book format - and I would prefer to see it
as a living and evolving project including a print copy (on non-acidic
paper). Robert Spencer's facsimile editions in the 1980s were absolutely
fundamental to the Early music revival movement. Those editions relied
on new technology at the time, and I am convinced that were he to live
today, Robert Spencer would be thrilled at all the new developments in
publishing and looking at ways of using them efficiently and in novel
ways. We cannot redo his job, we should further it and push it forward.
By the way, congratulations to the Cambridge digital editions - I was
under the impression that the Cherbury book would be following on the
Holmes MS but it does not seem to be the case...
Sorry if I was a tad long on the topic. If curious, you can check
http://fandango.musickshandmade.com/projects/view/2. For the authors and
pieces indexes you will need a free account to the site.
Alain
dn 02/01/2018 11:05 AM, Nancy Carlin wrote:
purchasing the print Yes, I was the LSA's 2nd Microfilm Librarian back
starting c1975, and I and gi
have a number of binders with paper copies made from films. Now if you
want a black and white, readable version of Cherbury you can find it on
Sarge Gerbode's website, but there are no concordances and you have to
have a table, play from your computer screen or print it out.
Meanwhile for those who love films and digital versions of lute music,
plans are afoot for the whole LSA Microfilm Library to be digitized and
available in the Members Only section of our website. If things go on
schedule it could happen this Spring.
Nancy
Dear Nancy,
Many years ago the only way to obtain copies of many of these MSs was
to pay for a microfilm copy which the collections often then seemed
willing to make. Some 20/30 years ago the late, and much missed, Donald
Gill gave me a photocopy of Cherbury printed from such a microfilm.
Legibility is not good but is quite passable under decent illumination.
My point in mentioning this is that if a decent facsimile is not
forthcoming shortly, then players could always explore this
possibility. When I archived Donald's collection I didn't find this
microfilm so presumably he borrowed a microfilm - perhaps from the Lute
Society or Lute Society of America....
regards
Martyn
PS I also very much agree with Ron: I find paper copies superior to
trying to read these things from a screen - also with the added
advantage that I can turn corners over to mark pieces I find
particularly notable and can pencil concordances and other observations
in the margins......... M.
__________________________________________________________________
From: Nancy Carlin [1]<na...@nancycarlinassociates.com>
To: Ron Andrico [2]<praelu...@hotmail.com>; [3]"lute...@aol.com"
[4]<lute...@aol.com>; [5]"lute@cs.dartmouth.edu"
[6]<lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, 31 January 2018, 18:54
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Cherbury lute book
Chris,
I agree with Ron. I use both digital and book format music and have
been
waiting to buy the Cherbury ms since I first heard about it. I am
especially interested in the noes and concordances.
Nancy
> Dear Chris:
>
> I'm writing in response to Hector's lute list posting on the
subject of
> the Herbert facsimile under consideration for publication. I
would buy
> the Lute Society facsimile edition, and would actively encourage
others
> to do so as well.
>
> There is a certain misconception that, because pdf facsimiles may
be
> readily available from libraries, there is no longer a need for,
nor a
> demand for, good quality printed editions of lute music. I have
> observed that while lute players love to collect music, and also
love
> to get free music, there is simply no replacement for a
well-designed
> printed edition that includes essays on historical background and
> concordances.
>
> I'll wager that most downloaded facsimile editions are simply
archived
> on hard drives and remain there unused. And as much as
technophiles
> love to tout the latest i-pad gizmos, nothing can replace real
paper
> music on a music stand. I'm not the only person who has observed
that
> information from a printed page is mentally processed much more
> effectively than information on a backlit screen.
>
> Yes, please do what is necessary to advance the Herbert facsimile
> project.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Ron
>
__________________________________________________________________
>
> From: [7]lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu <[8]lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu>
on behalf
> of Hector Sequera <[9]hectorl...@mac.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:55 PM
> To: [10]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
> Subject: [LUTE] Re: Cherbury lute book
>
> Good afternoon,
> In reply to the original question, the Lute Society just sent an
email
> to its membership to assess whether or not there is any interest
on
> this. Your reply to the message below may determine the fate of
this
> project. If interested simply reply to the secretary at:
> [11]lute...@aol.com <[1]mailto:[12]lute...@aol.com>
> Here is the original message sent this morning to the LS list:
>
â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"
> 1. HERBERT OF CHERBURY LUTE BOOK FACSIMILE â€" WOULD YOU BUY A
COPY?
>
> We have been talking for some years about producing a facsimile of
the
> Herbert of Cherbury lute book, the last great English renaissance
lute
> manuscript, with music from 6 to 10 courses, but there have been
> delays.
>
> We don’t need prepayments or subscriptions but we need to have
some
> idea of demand â€" especially as sales of facsimiles are less than
they
> were, with some much available online.
>
> If a facsimile of the Herbert of Cherbury lute book were similar
in
> format to our beautiful Dd.2.11 facsimile, and similar in price -
£50
> to members - WOULD YOU VERY PROBABLY BUY A COPY? PLEASE REPLY TO
THIS
> EMAIL TO LET US KNOW!
>
> And let us know if this would be too expensive, but you would buy
> simple, say, black and white reproduction, for, say £25.
>
â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"
> Best wishes,
> Hector
> > On 31 Jan 2018, at 13:39, Matteo Turri
<[13]matteo.o.tu...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > On 28 January 2018 at 12:42, Denys Stephens
> <[1][14]denyssteph...@sky.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > Dear Matteo,
> >
> > Thanks for your email! The subject of the planned Cherbury
> facsimile
> > was discussed at the Lute Society committee meeting held last
> December,
> > and there was still strong interest in publishing a hard copy
> facsimile
> > at that time. However, it wasn't known then that the museum
would
> be
> > offering a PDF copy of the manuscript, and that may change
views
> within
> > the committee about the viability of a hard copy edition. So
I'm
> afraid
> > that I can't give you a definitive answer at the moment, but
> hopefully
> > a decision will be made on this later this year. A great deal
of
> work
> > has been done by the society on the introductory material for
the
> > facsimile, and I feel sure that this will be made available by
the
> > society in some form in the not too distant future.
> >
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> >
> > Denys Stephens
> >
> >
> > From: Matteo Turri [[2]mailto:[2][15]matteo.o.tu...@gmail.com]
> > Sent: 27 January 2018 13:21
> > To: [3][16]denyssteph...@sky.com
> > Subject: Lord Herbert of Cherbury's Lutebook (now available as
a
> > downlload)
> >
> >
> > Dear Denys,
> >
> > since the Fitzwilliam Museum makes available a download of the
> > facsimile of the Lord Herbert of Cherbury's Lutebook - for
£25.00
> you
> > get access to "a free download" [sic] - , I was wondering when
> the
> > Lute Society will publish its edition of the manuscript.
> >
> > Best regards
> >
> > Matteo Turri
> >
> > On 31 January 2018 at 11:54, Rainer
<[4][17]rads.bera_g...@t-online.de>
> > wrote:
> >
> > I seem to remember that the English LS had announced a
facsimile
> > edition.
> > Rainer
> > On 31.01.2018 11:19, G. C. wrote:
> >
> > Yes, 25 pounds for a "free download" :D
> > G.
> > On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 11:12 AM, Rainer
> > <[1][5][18]rads.bera_g...@t-online.de> wrote:
> > Have you received a reply?
> > Rainer
> > On 20.01.2018 10:52, Matteo Turri wrote:
> > We are pleased to offer complete digital copies of
the
> > following
> > manuscripts from the Fitzwilliam collection,
supplied
> in
> > pdf
> > format
> > and available via a free download or on CD.
> > Cost: £25.00 +vat per manuscript (inc. postage
where
> > necessary).
> > As I understand it, it's either a free download for
the
> > pdf or
> > £25 for
> > the CD.
> > I just sent them an email - we'll see.
> > Matteo
> > To get on or off this list see list information at
> >
> [2][6][19]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
> > --
> > References
> > 1. mailto:[7][20]rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
> > 2.
[8][21]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
> >
> > --
> >
> > References
> >
> > Visible links
> > 1. [3]mailto:[22]denyssteph...@sky.com
> > 2. [4]mailto:[23]matteo.o.tu...@gmail.com
> > 3. [5]mailto:[24]denyssteph...@sky.com
> > 4. [6]mailto:[25]rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
> > 5. [7]mailto:[26]rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
> > 6.
[8][27]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
> > 7. [9]mailto:[28]rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
> > 8.
[10][29]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
> >
> > Hidden links:
> > 10.
>
[11][30]https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-186476389848586657_DAB4FAD
8-2D
> D7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2
> >
> --
>
> --
>
> References
>
> 1. mailto:[31]lute...@aol.com
> 2. mailto:[2][32]matteo.o.tu...@gmail.com
> 3. mailto:[33]denyssteph...@sky.com
> 4. mailto:[34]matteo.o.tu...@gmail.com
> 5. mailto:[35]denyssteph...@sky.com
> 6. mailto:[36]rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
> 7. mailto:[37]rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
> 8. [38]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
> 9. mailto:[39]rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
> 10. [40]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
> 11.
[41]https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-186476389848586657_DAB4FAD8-2D
D7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2
>
>
--
Nancy Carlin
Administrator THE LUTE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
[42]http://LuteSocietyofAmerica.org
PO Box 6499
Concord, CA 94524
USA
925 / 686-5800
[43]www.groundsanddivisions.info
[44]www.nancycarlinassociates.com
--
Nancy Carlin
Administrator THE LUTE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
[45]http://LuteSocietyofAmerica.org
PO Box 6499
Concord, CA 94524
USA
925 / 686-5800
[46]www.groundsanddivisions.info
[47]www.nancycarlinassociates.com
--
References
1. mailto:na...@nancycarlinassociates.com
2. mailto:praelu...@hotmail.com
3. mailto:lute...@aol.com
4. mailto:lute...@aol.com
5. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
6. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
7. mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu
8. mailto:lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu
9. mailto:hectorl...@mac.com
10. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
11. mailto:lute...@aol.com
12. mailto:lute...@aol.com
13. mailto:matteo.o.tu...@gmail.com
14. mailto:denyssteph...@sky.com
15. mailto:matteo.o.tu...@gmail.com
16. mailto:denyssteph...@sky.com
17. mailto:rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
18. mailto:rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
19. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
20. mailto:rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
21. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
22. mailto:denyssteph...@sky.com
23. mailto:matteo.o.tu...@gmail.com
24. mailto:denyssteph...@sky.com
25. mailto:rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
26. mailto:rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
27. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
28. mailto:rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
29. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
30. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-186476389848586657_DAB4FAD8-2D
31. mailto:lute...@aol.com
32. mailto:matteo.o.tu...@gmail.com
33. mailto:denyssteph...@sky.com
34. mailto:matteo.o.tu...@gmail.com
35. mailto:denyssteph...@sky.com
36. mailto:rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
37. mailto:rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
38. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
39. mailto:rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
40. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
41.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-186476389848586657_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2
42. http://lutesocietyofamerica.org/
43. http://www.groundsanddivisions.info/
44. http://www.nancycarlinassociates.com/
45. http://LuteSocietyofAmerica.org/
46. http://www.groundsanddivisions.info/
47. http://www.nancycarlinassociates.com/
