Thanks, Stuart. I've heard quite a bit of music like that, and enjoy improvising it as well. I'm sure you are right in that similar things were done on the vihuela. I imagine all those examples from Ortiz could be adapted too. I've played vihuela with a viol consort, and although I could be heard, it was a struggle. A plectrum is one of the simplest amplification systems on the market, and worth exploring. There doesn't seem much point doubling what all the viols are doing. Improvising variations to vocal lines would be more enjoyable, although initially daunting, maybe.
Rob -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
