Hello Marion,
Very many thanks for the PDF and the midi-file_which I did not expect! It
certainly has a
characteristic sound, but, perhaps more like Soler than Scarlatti...? When I
have decided
which route I will take for arrangement, either, in G for a 10s in E(Ramirez),
or in E as a
transposing key for a 10s terz/11s alt, I will send a "performance"
view(privately). Even if I
do a straight arrangement in G, I suspect that it will have more of a
harpsichord sound if
performed on a 10s tenor in Fsharp, i.e., brighter.
I note your varied collection of instruments! When you get your 13c baroque
lute, will you
re-string your alt in G? There is a lot of very fine music, late renaissance /
archlute for
such a tuning. Also, I was suprised to see that you had a domra. Back in the
late
'40's/'50's, a pair of duetists, one on domra, one on guitar, used to perform on
BBC
radio___I think they were Andrew Wolkowski and Bert Weedon. I thought the
combined
sound very attractive.
I note in the 10s group there has been some discussion of scale length, with a
preference
for the longer scale, I find that, certainly for renaissance lute pieces,
shorter scales, e.g.,
57cm. for an alt, or 63cm. for a terz, preferable. This is not because I am
"small", I am 6ft.
(1.83m, for my fellow europeans ), with a matching hand length. I think the
problem for
many men is the thickness of their fingers. Mine are sufficiently slender that I
can play the
little octave guitar, a mere 40cm. scale. Segovia with his very thick fingers
would have
found this impossible! My experience in teaching seemed to show that women, with
their
smaller hands, preferred a shoter scale. What are your views?
Noting your interest in the mandolin, have you read Hugo Dalton's book on the
classical
mandolin?
I think I am going to have to get a Mac specialist to sort out my scanning/PDF
problem, so
will likely send the suite by airmail, if this cannot be resolved quickly.
All the best for the recital,
James.