I'm pleased someone else plays music from this wonderful MS which must contain the logest piece ever written for baroque guitar (if, of course, it was ever expected to be played in one sitting). Regarding the particular piece: the harmonies and structure are reminiscent of Gianoncelli's 'IL LIUTO' (Venice 1650) with its passing dissonances (intentional I think) and variation form. However, whilst there is indeed a 'Baletto' with 5 variations (pgs 6,7) it isn't this one. It may seem a strange thing: to transcribe from the 14 course arciliuto to the 5 course guitar, but much of this music is only two part and the low basses are either used for effect or to free the left hand in higher positions (much as the extra basses on the Dm lute) so putting them up an octave or even two on a re-entrant tuned guitar may bring unexpected inversions - but to good effect here. Incidentally, I don't think this music it requires a bourdon on the fifth course altho' I do use one on the fourth. Perhaps it could go a little faster as well - but nicely played. rgds M. Stuart Walsh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I've been rummaging through my stuff for Baroque guitar and there is a very odd piece I look at every so often. It's a strange little thing and I'd be interested if anyone would have a quick play through and offer any comments on it.
Here it is: http://www.tuningsinthirds.com/Baleto/Baleto.jpg It's from the De Gallot MS (f.68), an English source from the 1670s. As I recall, it's from a section of the MS which has pieces in D major. The piece that immediately precedes it is very different; a courante in mixed tablature and alfabeto. The title looks like 'Baleto', but it doesn't seem anything like a dance piece from a suite. If anything it's more like an aria. I get the impression that it's an arrangement: something with a slow melody and a chugging bass line, perhaps. It also sounds vaguely familiar and - although it probably isn't - it sounds very English. Sturdy and plodding. The harmonies are unusual too - especially line two, final bar and line three, first three bars. Lots of suspensions and sevenths. I'm not sure it sounds quite right, but it's certainly interesting. Maybe someone was trying to realise a complicated figured bass. On the other hand it's nothing like those learned harmonic progressions you get in some Sanz pieces or the remarkable Preludio de 1 tono (D minor) in the Resumen of Santiago de Murcia.(Does anyone play that piece?) The varied repeat in the Baleto [sic] is even more speculative and there are some errors in the rhythm signs. And more curious harmonies all over the place. Perhaps unwisely again, I've uploaded a very amateur effort at just one run through of the piece. http://www.tuningsinthirds.com/Baleto/Baleto.mp3 Any ideas? Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html --------------------------------- For ideas on reducing your carbon footprint visit Yahoo! For Good this month. --
