Arpeggio = "in the style of a harp". We harpists do it more or less
automatically. Some chords, especially longer notes at the end of a
phrase, cry to be arpeggiated. Others are more appropriately played
"flat".
When piddling with my new-to-me theorbo I generally try to play in a
style similar to that which I would use on a harp. I cannot imagine a
musician of the 17th C playing flat all or most of the time. There is
such a nice effect in the spread of the notes that is lost unless the
technique is used.
BTW, we are finally stringing what I believe to be the oldest original
pedal harp in the Americas. Tentatively dated 1782, built by Geo.
Blaicher a Paris, we were able to save the original soundboard!
Howard Bryan
www.hbryan.com
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