Dear All Mimmo Peruffo has just sent me these superb photos of a completely unrestored 11c 'Hans Frei Bologna; Baroqued Matthias Fur/Rom 1683, 71.20 cms vibrating length photographed in January 2005, at the Kremsmunster: Instrumentenmuseum. Mimmo says, "It is clear that this was an original Hans Frei of the renaissance age made d minor in the 1683 year. It is so fantastic to have another confirmation of what Burwell others say about the use of the old Bolognese lutes to rebuilt as 11c lutes", MP.
http://tinyurl.com/2gutgg http://tinyurl.com/2cdbof MP says the Bridge holes are 1.80 mm for the 11th hole, 1.55 mm only for the 10th. He says it sounded fantastic to him. He sends it because of my reference to the Mouton lute with the lace around the sound board (this process can clearly be seen on the Kremsmunster Frei lute too); but also because the question has been raised about the rh. little finger position. The marks are very clear to see, near and even perhaps on the bridge. Mimmo also thinks this has to prove the thumb was surely quite out for the player of this instrument. These are his personal photos, but he authorizes me to show them to you, but of course any reference to them, implies quoting him. Personally, I feel privileged to see such photos, and I heartily thank Mimmo for allowing us to view them, and have a little more insight into his research procedures. As I am ordering an 11c Frei lute, and the string length is a little less, but nevertheless quite long, I am relieved to see such string lengths were entirely authentic. Regards Anthony PS This now means that the proportion of extant Freis to Maler Bologna lutes that I know about has slightly changed (3 Freis to 5 Malers), but there are now more 11 ribbed models than 9 ribbed among these (three Frei plus two Maler with 11 ribs, and three Malers with 9 ribs, but to these last you can add the related 9 ribbed Laux Bosh, so it is about equal; but I know of no 7 ribbed Burwell lute, we may still be surprised.) PPS, I feel a little mean not showing these photos to the whole list (Lute), but they are Baroque. -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html