--- james r smith <vector10@...> wrote:

> Hello Marion,
> Very many thanks for the PDF and the midi-file_which I did not
> expect!

++You are most welcome.

> It certainly has a
> characteristic sound, but, perhaps more like Soler than Scarlatti...?

++That's interesting I am not familiar with Soler but now it looks like
I will
find out more and get some Soler music.

> 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).

++What tuning do you prefer for the 11s?

> 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.

++Actually, the original is in F# re: A440. My 11s is tuned to A 415 so
I can play
in in the studio with tracks from my mandolino which is tuned A415 to
match
baroque lute.

> I note your varied collection of instruments! When you get your 13c
> baroque lute, will you re-string your alt in G?

++I will keep my 11s in Dm. It is very conveninent to be able to switch
between baroque
lute and alt and play the same music. For a while now I have been
thinking of getting an arch lute. In the mean time I have two 8c
renaissance lutes.

>There is a lot of very fine music, late renaissance / archlute for
> such a tuning.

++I especially like Piccinini from that period,

> Also, I was suprised to see that you had a domra.

++Actually I have three domras, two alto and one prima.

> 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.

++That is a good combination. Our first CD has some renaissance songs
with guitar
and domra. I have not decided on the continuo instrument for my domra
concerto
but it may well be guitar. The alto domra can tune to A415.

> 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.

++How wonderful to have an octave guitar. I have thought about getting
one but so far have not. 40 cm. scale is very convenient for travel.

> 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?

++I prefer instruments with shorter scales because they are easier to
hold. I think
it depends on arm length more than hand size, which seems to be
independent of
arm length. Donatella Galletti and I have very similar hand sizes but
my arms are
quite a lot longer that hers. I recentely had my baroque lute string
spacings resized
to match hers and I have found that it is more convenient for me to
play like that.

> Noting your interest in the mandolin, have you read Hugo Dalton's
> book on the classical mandolin?

++No, but I do have Tyler and Sparks, which is quite interesing. It
even has some
music.

> 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.

++that's ok - however you want to send it is fine with me.

> All the best for the recital,

++Thank you,
Marion


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