Dear Jorg,
I play continuo on theorbo and other plucked instruments and also
employ the mandora/gallichon in nominal D tuning with a string length
of 75cm (and also the large calchedon in nominal A tuning with sl 98cm)
where the instrument is appropriate - ie mostly second to last quarter
of the 18thC.
There are quite a lot of songs and concerted instrumental works from
the mid-18thC for the smaller instrument as obbligato with fully
written out accompaniments and these provide good sources for the
suitable style of continuo realisations on this instrument. Of course,
the repertoire where the smaller gallichon/mandora (ie D or later E
nominal) is most appropriate is not really the baroque period but the
pre-classical with its longer harmonic lines and where things like
measured arpeggios etc are increasingly employed. Indeed, much like
some early five/six string/course guitar sources of the late 18th/early
19th C (eg Porro, Scheidler, De Call, Molitor, et als).
As you remark, the instrument can be quite loud and thus provides a
good continuo instrument for this later period (especially for works
from German-speaking lands - but not exclusively).
Incidentally, the usual intervals are not the same as on the
renaissance lute (with a third between the fourth and third course) but
as on the guitar (with the third between the third and second course).
regards
Martyn
On Thursday, 12 September 2019, 08:17:00 BST, Jörg Hilbert
wrote:
Dear all,
I have got a big Mandora in D (renaissance tuning, NOT d-minor, NOT
theorobo). I may try to play some continuo with it as it's quite
sonorous.
Has anybody experiences with this?
Thanks
Jörg
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