[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
He stopped the notes in the same way as all other contemporary lutenists did before glued-on frets became general: by depressing the string to the belly. MH --- On Fri, 17/12/10, Edward Mast nedma...@aol.com wrote: From: Edward Mast nedma...@aol.com Subject: [LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n) To: Martin Shepherd mar...@luteshop.co.uk Cc: Lute List lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Date: Friday, 17 December, 2010, 22:42 Martin- If Dowland didn't have body frets on his instruments, does that mean he had upward of 10 or 11 frets on the neck - even 12? Does this mean very long necks? And would that mean a small body, or a larger body and perhaps a long string length? How long a string length would be practical, in your opinion, for him to have been able to play his more complex works (ones involving chords requiring long stretches between fingers) ? Many questions, I know, but other than the information that he went from 7 course instruments to 10 or more courses later in life, I've not seen any detailed description of his instruments. Thank you, -Ned On Dec 17, 2010, at 1:12 PM, Martin Shepherd wrote: Dear All, Sorry - another thought, perhaps less helpful than the first. The last several of Dowland's frets were made from first-course material (.40-.45mm gut?), so if he had had body frets (and it seems he didn't) they couldn't have been exactly tree-trunk sized. Best, Martin On 17/12/2010 16:17, Edward Mast wrote: Stuart, I was thinking about your comments today as I worked on a Dowland piece that has passages in the i,k,l fret area. On my lute these frets don't have the resonance that the lower frets do, either. What I do find, though, is that I get a better sound from the body frets when I play them with the fingers - no matter where they fall in the measure - than with the thumb. Perhaps you've noticed this, or perhaps your right hand technique is different from mine. . . -Ned On Dec 14, 2010, at 6:16 AM, Stuart Walsh wrote: On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at [1]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
Thank you, Martyn. That makes sense. Since I play the cello (no frets on it) I should have thought of that. -Ned On Dec 18, 2010, at 3:38 AM, Martyn Hodgson wrote: He stopped the notes in the same way as all other contemporary lutenists did before glued-on frets became general: by depressing the string to the belly. MH --- On Fri, 17/12/10, Edward Mast nedma...@aol.com wrote: From: Edward Mast nedma...@aol.com Subject: [LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n) To: Martin Shepherd mar...@luteshop.co.uk Cc: Lute List lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Date: Friday, 17 December, 2010, 22:42 Martin- If Dowland didn't have body frets on his instruments, does that mean he had upward of 10 or 11 frets on the neck - even 12? Does this mean very long necks? And would that mean a small body, or a larger body and perhaps a long string length? How long a string length would be practical, in your opinion, for him to have been able to play his more complex works (ones involving chords requiring long stretches between fingers) ? Many questions, I know, but other than the information that he went from 7 course instruments to 10 or more courses later in life, I've not seen any detailed description of his instruments. Thank you, -Ned On Dec 17, 2010, at 1:12 PM, Martin Shepherd wrote: Dear All, Sorry - another thought, perhaps less helpful than the first. The last several of Dowland's frets were made from first-course material (.40-.45mm gut?), so if he had had body frets (and it seems he didn't) they couldn't have been exactly tree-trunk sized. Best, Martin On 17/12/2010 16:17, Edward Mast wrote: Stuart, I was thinking about your comments today as I worked on a Dowland piece that has passages in the i,k,l fret area. On my lute these frets don't have the resonance that the lower frets do, either. What I do find, though, is that I get a better sound from the body frets when I play them with the fingers - no matter where they fall in the measure - than with the thumb. Perhaps you've noticed this, or perhaps your right hand technique is different from mine. . . -Ned On Dec 14, 2010, at 6:16 AM, Stuart Walsh wrote: On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html --
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
Stuart, I was thinking about your comments today as I worked on a Dowland piece that has passages in the i,k,l fret area. On my lute these frets don't have the resonance that the lower frets do, either. What I do find, though, is that I get a better sound from the body frets when I play them with the fingers - no matter where they fall in the measure - than with the thumb. Perhaps you've noticed this, or perhaps your right hand technique is different from mine. . . -Ned On Dec 14, 2010, at 6:16 AM, Stuart Walsh wrote: On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
Dear All, Can't think why I haven't said this before, but I hope some of you find it useful: The higher the fret, the further from the bridge (in terms of proportion) you are plucking the string, so think about playing a little closer to the bridge when you play those notes on higher frets. Best wishes, Martin On 17/12/2010 16:17, Edward Mast wrote: Stuart, I was thinking about your comments today as I worked on a Dowland piece that has passages in the i,k,l fret area. On my lute these frets don't have the resonance that the lower frets do, either. What I do find, though, is that I get a better sound from the body frets when I play them with the fingers - no matter where they fall in the measure - than with the thumb. Perhaps you've noticed this, or perhaps your right hand technique is different from mine. . . -Ned On Dec 14, 2010, at 6:16 AM, Stuart Walsh wrote: On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
Dear All, Sorry - another thought, perhaps less helpful than the first. The last several of Dowland's frets were made from first-course material (.40-.45mm gut?), so if he had had body frets (and it seems he didn't) they couldn't have been exactly tree-trunk sized. Best, Martin On 17/12/2010 16:17, Edward Mast wrote: Stuart, I was thinking about your comments today as I worked on a Dowland piece that has passages in the i,k,l fret area. On my lute these frets don't have the resonance that the lower frets do, either. What I do find, though, is that I get a better sound from the body frets when I play them with the fingers - no matter where they fall in the measure - than with the thumb. Perhaps you've noticed this, or perhaps your right hand technique is different from mine. . . -Ned On Dec 14, 2010, at 6:16 AM, Stuart Walsh wrote: On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
Martin- If Dowland didn't have body frets on his instruments, does that mean he had upward of 10 or 11 frets on the neck - even 12? Does this mean very long necks? And would that mean a small body, or a larger body and perhaps a long string length? How long a string length would be practical, in your opinion, for him to have been able to play his more complex works (ones involving chords requiring long stretches between fingers) ? Many questions, I know, but other than the information that he went from 7 course instruments to 10 or more courses later in life, I've not seen any detailed description of his instruments. Thank you, -Ned On Dec 17, 2010, at 1:12 PM, Martin Shepherd wrote: Dear All, Sorry - another thought, perhaps less helpful than the first. The last several of Dowland's frets were made from first-course material (.40-.45mm gut?), so if he had had body frets (and it seems he didn't) they couldn't have been exactly tree-trunk sized. Best, Martin On 17/12/2010 16:17, Edward Mast wrote: Stuart, I was thinking about your comments today as I worked on a Dowland piece that has passages in the i,k,l fret area. On my lute these frets don't have the resonance that the lower frets do, either. What I do find, though, is that I get a better sound from the body frets when I play them with the fingers - no matter where they fall in the measure - than with the thumb. Perhaps you've noticed this, or perhaps your right hand technique is different from mine. . . -Ned On Dec 14, 2010, at 6:16 AM, Stuart Walsh wrote: On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
On 17/12/2010 16:17, Edward Mast wrote: Stuart, I was thinking about your comments today as I worked on a Dowland piece that has passages in the i,k,l fret area. On my lute these frets don't have the resonance that the lower frets do, either. What I do find, though, is that I get a better sound from the body frets when I play them with the fingers - no matter where they fall in the measure - than with the thumb. Perhaps you've noticed this, or perhaps your right hand technique is different from mine. . . -Ned I think it is. I have in the past tried to master thumb and forefinger but I couldn't ever get a satisfactory sound. I realise that many people, perhaps most lute players these days, are fine with this technique. And maybe it gives them an edge with really fast twiddly bits you get all over the place in Renaissance music. I just use fingers, 'i' and 'm', but quite often 'a' for maximum tone. Stuart On Dec 14, 2010, at 6:16 AM, Stuart Walsh wrote: On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
Dear Ed, We have to be careful not to regard Dowland's lute as being one instrument. Nearly all of what we regard as his solo lute music was almost certainly written before 1600, about half of it for 6 courses (and eight tied frets). His remarks in Varietie of Lute Lessons were published in 1610, by which time he is talking about a 9c lute with ten tied frets. He implies that wooden frets on the body were a relatively recent invention and not adopted by all players. According to Dowland the fashion for longer necks with ten frets started in France, and must surely have resulted in longer string lengths. I think string lengths around 67cm must have been quite common by this time. You can find a bit more detail in my essay on Dowland at: www.johndowland.co.uk/DowlandsLutes.htm You might also be interested in my essay on his ornaments: www.johndowland.co.uk/ornamentation.htm Best wishes, Martin On 17/12/2010 22:42, Edward Mast wrote: Martin- If Dowland didn't have body frets on his instruments, does that mean he had upward of 10 or 11 frets on the neck - even 12? Does this mean very long necks? And would that mean a small body, or a larger body and perhaps a long string length? How long a string length would be practical, in your opinion, for him to have been able to play his more complex works (ones involving chords requiring long stretches between fingers) ? Many questions, I know, but other than the information that he went from 7 course instruments to 10 or more courses later in life, I've not seen any detailed description of his instruments. Thank you, -Ned On Dec 17, 2010, at 1:12 PM, Martin Shepherd wrote: Dear All, Sorry - another thought, perhaps less helpful than the first. The last several of Dowland's frets were made from first-course material (.40-.45mm gut?), so if he had had body frets (and it seems he didn't) they couldn't have been exactly tree-trunk sized. Best, Martin On 17/12/2010 16:17, Edward Mast wrote: Stuart, I was thinking about your comments today as I worked on a Dowland piece that has passages in the i,k,l fret area. On my lute these frets don't have the resonance that the lower frets do, either. What I do find, though, is that I get a better sound from the body frets when I play them with the fingers - no matter where they fall in the measure - than with the thumb. Perhaps you've noticed this, or perhaps your right hand technique is different from mine. . . -Ned On Dec 14, 2010, at 6:16 AM, Stuart Walsh wrote: On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
Piccinini 1639 goes up to the 19th fret on page 1. But probably not using glued on frets - just by depressing to the belly. MH --- On Tue, 14/12/10, Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com wrote: From: Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com Subject: [LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n) To: sterling price spiffys84...@yahoo.com Cc: Lute Net lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Date: Tuesday, 14 December, 2010, 11:16 On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at [1]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
There are some late works that use the upper register quite a bit. I believe Hagen somewhere calls for notes up to the 14th, but it's not often used. I play mostly late 18th century music (and a lots of Hagen) with only 12 frets on my lute. I've never needed the 14th. Chris Christopher Wilke Lutenist, Guitarist and Composer www.christopherwilke.com --- On Tue, 12/14/10, Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com wrote: From: Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com Subject: [LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n) To: sterling price spiffys84...@yahoo.com Cc: Lute Net lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2010, 6:16 AM On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
I use the 14th fret for works of Bach such as the chacone and BWV 997 which I play in d minor. The high frets on my lutes sound great. Sterling - Original Message From: Christopher Wilke chriswi...@yahoo.com To: sterling price spiffys84...@yahoo.com; Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com Cc: Lute Net lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Sent: Tue, December 14, 2010 6:54:09 AM Subject: Re: [LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n) There are some late works that use the upper register quite a bit. I believe Hagen somewhere calls for notes up to the 14th, but it's not often used. I play mostly late 18th century music (and a lots of Hagen) with only 12 frets on my lute. I've never needed the 14th. Chris Christopher Wilke Lutenist, Guitarist and Composer www.christopherwilke.com --- On Tue, 12/14/10, Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com wrote: From: Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com Subject: [LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n) To: sterling price spiffys84...@yahoo.com Cc: Lute Net lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2010, 6:16 AM On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
Isn't the k of the 11 course French baroque lute enough? ;-) Arto On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:25:35 -0800 (PST), sterling price spiffys84...@yahoo.com wrote: I use the 14th fret for works of Bach such as the chacone and BWV 997 which I play in d minor. The high frets on my lutes sound great. Sterling - Original Message From: Christopher Wilke chriswi...@yahoo.com To: sterling price spiffys84...@yahoo.com; Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com Cc: Lute Net lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Sent: Tue, December 14, 2010 6:54:09 AM Subject: Re: [LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n) There are some late works that use the upper register quite a bit. I believe Hagen somewhere calls for notes up to the 14th, but it's not often used. I play mostly late 18th century music (and a lots of Hagen) with only 12 frets on my lute. I've never needed the 14th. Chris Christopher Wilke Lutenist, Guitarist and Composer www.christopherwilke.com --- On Tue, 12/14/10, Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com wrote: From: Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com Subject: [LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n) To: sterling price spiffys84...@yahoo.com Cc: Lute Net lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2010, 6:16 AM On 14/12/2010 00:02, sterling price wrote: Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling 14 frets? Is there music that calls for 14 frets? On my lute the high g, fret n, sounds weak, very plinky an unfocused. I can't imagine what a fourteenth fret would sound like! Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
- Original Message From: sterling price spiffys84...@yahoo.com To: Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com; Lute Net lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Sent: Mon, December 13, 2010 12:06:33 AM Subject: Re: [LUTE] lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n) Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling - Original Message From: Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com To: Lute Net lute@cs.dartmouth.edu So I wonder what other people's lute sounds like at n on the first course? I'm happy enough with my first course (sounds like a meal...) up to l but thereafter, not a lot is happening. Here's a go at it (with some mangly bits that really stick out in this context) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L72Hhwk-a7k Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
I enjoy your playing of this very nice piece of Brian Wright very much Stuart. It's wonderful that you are so open-minded and interested in contemporary lute music. Gilbert http://users.telenet.be/gilbert.isbin/contents.html - Original Message - From: Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com To: Lute Net lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2010 10:09 PM Subject: [LUTE] lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n) In the latest Music Supplement to Lute News, nestling between formidable-looking fantasias by Diomedes on one side and an even more formidable-looking Bach transcription for Baroque lute on the other, is a piece by Brian Wright. This is unusual territory for a lute, I think. It's not technically difficult. Well, there are no fast runs nor tricky rhythms.But it does use very high positions, including fret n, the twelfth fret. I've always thought I had a decent lute but my fret n is almost a pitchless plink. The music also calls for fret l on the fifth course and the maker of my lute hasn't extended the little wooden fret to cover the fifth course. And I don't think I've ever had need of it. (On a guitar, at the twelfth fret one might be thinking of apoyando and ripe vibrato but presumably this situation is different) So I wonder what other people's lute sounds like at n on the first course? I'm happy enough with my first course (sounds like a meal...) up to l but thereafter, not a lot is happening. Here's a go at it (with some mangly bits that really stick out in this context) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L72Hhwk-a7k Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html Geen virus gevonden in het binnenkomende-bericht. Gecontroleerd door AVG - www.avg.com Versie: 9.0.872 / Virusdatabase: 271.1.1/3311 - datum van uitgifte: 12/12/10 08:35:00
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
A really lovely piece of music, likely written on guitar or conceived with regard to that market. Very well performed too. Interestingly it is so much better than the atonal stuff that Brian has on his own channel. A pleasant surprise. RT - Original Message - From: Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com To: Lute Net lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2010 4:09 PM Subject: [LUTE] lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n) In the latest Music Supplement to Lute News, nestling between formidable-looking fantasias by Diomedes on one side and an even more formidable-looking Bach transcription for Baroque lute on the other, is a piece by Brian Wright. This is unusual territory for a lute, I think. It's not technically difficult. Well, there are no fast runs nor tricky rhythms.But it does use very high positions, including fret n, the twelfth fret. I've always thought I had a decent lute but my fret n is almost a pitchless plink. The music also calls for fret l on the fifth course and the maker of my lute hasn't extended the little wooden fret to cover the fifth course. And I don't think I've ever had need of it. (On a guitar, at the twelfth fret one might be thinking of apoyando and ripe vibrato but presumably this situation is different) So I wonder what other people's lute sounds like at n on the first course? I'm happy enough with my first course (sounds like a meal...) up to l but thereafter, not a lot is happening. Here's a go at it (with some mangly bits that really stick out in this context) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L72Hhwk-a7k Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
[LUTE] Re: lute piece by Brian Wright (and fret n)
Most lutes have way too small body frets as they come from the maker. I always make bigger more suitable frets on my lutes. This often means that they get -taller- as they go up from fret K, especially if there is 14 frets. Of course this all depends on the action of the lute. --Sterling - Original Message From: Stuart Walsh s.wa...@ntlworld.com To: Lute Net lute@cs.dartmouth.edu So I wonder what other people's lute sounds like at n on the first course? I'm happy enough with my first course (sounds like a meal...) up to l but thereafter, not a lot is happening. Here's a go at it (with some mangly bits that really stick out in this context) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L72Hhwk-a7k Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
