Odd tablature notation
Dear Doctor Oakroot,
As you know, Roman numbers are sometimes used to indicate chords,
e.g. IV for the sub-dominant, but that is the case here. The
tonality at this point is F minor, with a tierce de Picardie where
there is a pause marked. If anything, the Roman number would be I,
not IV.
By the way, if anyone has the SPES facsimile, they will find the
passage concerned six pages from the end, i.e. folio 72r.
As Leonard Williams has pointed out, the IV is used to show that two
different notes are to be obtained from the third course by stopping
just one of the two strings of that course. It happens in one or two
places elsewhere in the Capirola Lute Book (e.g. folio 28v), and
Bakfark does something similar too. The use of IV is puzzling,
because the split course is the 3rd, not the 4th. Perhaps the editor
was counting courses from the bass instead of the treble.
I have found that the way to make the split-course technique work is
to choke (stretch the string along the fret as jazz and rock
guitarists do) the stopped string very slightly away from its
partner towards the 2nd course. It doesn't matter if your finger
touches the 2nd course, because that course is not needed. There
will be a slight distortion of pitch - sharp, but negligeable. It's
worth it for the sake of getting the two strings to operate
independently.
To answer your question, I can confirm that it is playable without
it sounding not very nice.
Your suggestion of playing
---
-5-
-4-
-3-
---
---
instead is probably the best solution for Tobiah playing his modern
guitar, but it would not be suitable on a 6-course lute, because the
octave stringing appropriate for Capirola's time (octaves on the
4th, 5th and 6th courses) would produce extra high notes, in effect
sounding like this:
---
-5-
-4-
-3-
-3-
-2-
Best wishes,
Stewart.
- Original Message -
From: Doctor Oakroot [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 5:35 AM
Subject: Re: Odd tablature notation
Doctor Oakroot wrote:
The IV indicates a IV chord (i.e., F min in the key of C min).
Play the
tab. That's what it's there for.
Whoops, that's an F major. (Wasn't looking at the score when I
wrote that
and missed the natural sign).
As for the split course stuff, can anyone actually play that
without it
sounding like crap? Seems like it would be easier to play this:
---
-5-
-4-
-3-
---
---
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
There are a couple of pieces in a book that I
have of the lute music of Vincenzo Capirola.
Here is an example:
http://tobiah.org/measure.jpg
It seems to indicate that a half bar should
be used at the fourth fret, but I can't figure
out any way to get a reasonable sound by playing
the measure that way, let alone get the pitches
that are indicated on the grand staff.
It sounds correct if I just play the grand staff
as written, ignoring the IV{ marking, but I feel
that I am missing something.
Thanks,
Tobiah
Odd tablature notation
There are a couple of pieces in a book that I
have of the lute music of Vincenzo Capirola.
Here is an example:
http://tobiah.org/measure.jpg
It seems to indicate that a half bar should
be used at the fourth fret, but I can't figure
out any way to get a reasonable sound by playing
the measure that way, let alone get the pitches
that are indicated on the grand staff.
It sounds correct if I just play the grand staff
as written, ignoring the IV{ marking, but I feel
that I am missing something.
Thanks,
Tobiah
Re: Odd tablature notation
Tobiah--
That notation is Capirola's (perhaps) unique notation for a split course.
Stop one string only of
the course, play the other string open. It is noted thus in the original manuscript
of his works
transcribed by a student. In the measure you cite, you'll be playing an open a
against a c on the 3rd
course. It's a little tricky, but it works. You can also write out the chord
differently, but try it his
way, too.
Regards for a Healthy, Happy New Year!
Leonard Williams
[]
(_)
~
- Original Message -
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 5:18 PM
Subject: Odd tablature notation
There are a couple of pieces in a book that I
have of the lute music of Vincenzo Capirola.
Here is an example:
http://tobiah.org/measure.jpg
It seems to indicate that a half bar should
be used at the fourth fret, but I can't figure
out any way to get a reasonable sound by playing
the measure that way, let alone get the pitches
that are indicated on the grand staff.
It sounds correct if I just play the grand staff
as written, ignoring the IV{ marking, but I feel
that I am missing something.
Thanks,
Tobiah
Re: Odd tablature notation
Leonard Williams wrote:
Tobiah--
That notation is Capirola's (perhaps) unique notation for a split course.
Stop one string only of
the course, play the other string open.
Oh, thanks. I can make sense of the measure now.
Unfortunately, I am using a guitar to play the music,
and so I will be unable to try this. The meausure
can be played fine with a normal fingering anyway.
Just one thing though, what does the IV{ indicate?
Thanks,
Tobiah
Re: Odd tablature notation
Just one thing though, what does the IV{ indicate?
Thanks,
Tobiah
Never mind. Obviously it means that both notes are
to be played on the fourth course.
Re: Odd tablature notation
Doctor Oakroot wrote:
The IV indicates a IV chord (i.e., F min in the key of C min). Play the
tab. That's what it's there for.
Whoops, that's an F major. (Wasn't looking at the score when I wrote that
and missed the natural sign).
As for the split course stuff, can anyone actually play that without it
sounding like crap? Seems like it would be easier to play this:
---
-5-
-4-
-3-
---
---
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
There are a couple of pieces in a book that I
have of the lute music of Vincenzo Capirola.
Here is an example:
http://tobiah.org/measure.jpg
It seems to indicate that a half bar should
be used at the fourth fret, but I can't figure
out any way to get a reasonable sound by playing
the measure that way, let alone get the pitches
that are indicated on the grand staff.
It sounds correct if I just play the grand staff
as written, ignoring the IV{ marking, but I feel
that I am missing something.
Thanks,
Tobiah
--
Rough-edged songs from a dark place in the soul:
http://DoctorOakroot.com
--
Rough-edged songs from a dark place in the soul:
http://DoctorOakroot.com
