A history of the lute from antiquity to the renaissance by douglas alton smith. Ferrabosco fantasia from the board lute book for renaissance lute. The beautifully decorated capirola lute book, a manuscript written in venice 15151520, states that a player should make it so that the first fret almost touches the strings, and so on to the end, because as the frets are nearer to the string, the strings sound like a harp, and the lute appears better. Apr 29, 2008 another version of greensleeves, the most famous lute tune i believe here i play first the anonymous version from the william ballet lute book probably the first known version for solo lute of. Lute music from the renaissance, volume i guitar book item. More recently, matthew springs doctoral studies led to a published book, the lute in britain, a history of the instrument and its music oup, 2001a nice. A centuryandahalf ago the swiss art historian, jacob burckhardt, popularized the idea of a renaissance in 14th century italy. Which is a following is not a reason that italy led the renaissance. Italian a term that encompasses a great variety of works in improvisatory style from the renaissance to the romantic period. Tutor for renaissance lute complete beginner to advanced. Six chapters cover all aspects of the lutes history and its music in england. The below video and the article which accompanies it are really for people who have just become interested in the lute and would like some help with the most basic questions concerning the different types of lute and their historical development. The courses are tuned in unison for high and intermediate pitches, but for lower pitches one of the two strings is tuned an octave higher the course where this split starts changed over the history of the lute.
Tuning an 8 course renaissance lute the image above is of the nut of an 8course renaissance lute with the strings crossing it to attach to the pegs. A history of the lute from antiquity to the renaissance book. The tablatures in the capirola lute book include selections in each of the standard genres of renaissance solo lute music. The lute essay the metropolitan museum of art heilbrunn.
A page in italian lute tablature from the beautifully decorated capirola lute book, written in venice 15151520 by vitale, a pupil of lutenist. An illustrated history of the lute part one the european lute derives both in name and form from the arab instrument known as al ud, which means literally the wood either because it had a soundboard of wood as distinct from a parchment skin stretched over the body, or because the body itself was built up from wooden strips rather than. The book focuses on the lutes history, but also contains chapters on the lute in concert, lute song. Although covering the lutes history only up to the end of the renaissance period, the books scope is vast. Music examples, illustrations, bibliography, index.
The below video and the article which accompanies it are really for people who have just become interested in the lute and would like some help with the most basic questions concerning the different types of. Although covering the lutes history only up to the end of the renaissance period, the books scope is. A history of the lute from antiquity to the renaissance by. The open books that lie before her on the covered table are presumably lute song. For most people, the term still conjures up works of art by the likes of michelangelo or leonardo. The best books on the renaissance five books expert.
This is a trio of books for the vihuela, a spanish 6 course instrument shaped like a large guitar compared to the small 4 course guitar but tuned identically to the lute in a country where the lute didnt catch on. From the arabian oud to the medieval, renaissance and baroque. Thus an 8course renaissance lute usually has 15 strings, and a course baroque lute has 24. Complete solo galliards for renaissance lute or guitar, peacock press smith, douglas alton 2002, a history of the lute from antiquity to the renaissance, the lute society of america, isbn 0971x. What is generally referred to today as the renaissance lute repertoire spans the period beginning with the tablatures petrucci printed in venice in 1507, and ending around the third decade of the 17th century. The lute of the medieval troubadours, renaissance humanists and baroque courts is woven into the musical history of the middle ages, as well as the collective consciousness of today. The late renaissance 15801620 is a particularly interesting time for the lute. A history of the lute from antiquity to the renaissance by smith, douglas alton and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Lute music from the renaissance, volume ii guitar book item. The renaissance lute typically had a body constructed of nine to thirteen ribs, mostly made of maple, and a single carved rosette with an intricate geometric designmost of the examples show a knot or star pattern. A history of the lute from antiquity to the renaissance. Lute and historical guitar building with michael schreiner.
Spring focuses on the lute in britain, but also includes two chapters devoted to continental developments. Renaissance music for guitar is a book that will appeal to many types of guitarists. Popular renaissance history books showing 150 of 343 the tigress of forli. Join a community of music enthusiasts with a passion for. Six chapters cover all aspects of the lute s history and its music in england. Happily, there are many actual renaissance pieces, the first as early as the third lesson, to get the student playing the music that has made the renaissance lute so beloved. His superbly illustrated and comprehensive book explores the historical and cultural reasons behind the lutes importance as the. It became the symbol of the magic and power of music. It is an important link between the unknown of the renaissance and the. World history chapter 12 renaissance sections 1 and 2. While the lute was thought to have seen its demise in 1814, this instrument of antiquity has seen a revival since the mid 20th century in progrock, folk, and contemporary classical. Nearly half of the pieces in the manuscript are intabulations of vocal models. History, development, music, composer and other themes and items from the.
Serious renaissance lute composition began, as did so many other things in the renaissance, in italy. Heres a great serious yet classically beautiful coffeetable gift book for any friend. Sep 22, 2003 springs book is the first attempt to trace a history of the lute in britain including scotland from the earliest known documents of about 1285 to its decline in the early eighteenth century. For no very obvious reason, the baton of renaissance lute pedagogy seems to have passed from one country to another during the 16th century, from italy to germany, to spain, to france, and finally to england. T he following chronological list includes existing pluckedstring tablatures from 16001699, as well as sources known to have existed that are now lost. It is a beautifully prepared, edited, and laidout book. The seven course lute was slow to appear in england.
Springs book is the first attempt to trace a history of the lute in britain including scotland from the earliest known documents of about 1285 to its decline in the early eighteenth century. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Note that the list contains primarily music in some form of lute or guitar tablature, not music in staff notation that might possibly have been played on the lute or other plucked string. The renaissance lute typically had a body constructed of nine to thirteen ribs. Notice that the lute has pairs of strings called courses, which are always played together much like a 12string guitar. See more ideas about lute, history and renaissance music. See more ideas about renaissance music, lute and renaissance. While the lute was thought to have seen its demise in 1814, this instrument of antiquity has seen a revival since the mid 20th century in progrock, folk, and. An illustrated history of the lute in western europe. The student of the lute needed to be sufficiently affluent to afford the instrument, music, strings and tuition. Part one the european lute derives both in name and form from the arab instrument known as al ud, which means literally the wood either because it had a soundboard of wood as distinct from a parchment skin stretched over the body, or because the body itself was built up from wooden strips rather than made from a hollow gourd. Lute can refer generally to any string instrument having the strings running in a plane parallel to the sound table in the hornbostelsachs system, more specifically to any plucked can refer generally to any string instrument having the strings running in a plane parallel to the sound table in the hornbostelsachs system, more specifically to. Another version of greensleeves, the most famous lute tune i believe here i play first the anonymous version from the william ballet lute book probably the first known version for solo lute of. Fortepiano harpsichord hurdy gurdy lute recorder renaissance lute soprano recorder tabor pipe theorbo vielle viol violin home books.
It is a product of an era that was serious about guitar playing and musical. Professor of renaissance studies, jerry brotton, picks the best books. Ample discussion of lute music repertoire, biographies of important composers, the lutes cultural and societal context, tablature notations are all included in chapters organized by geography throughout europe. With the rise of polyphony during the renaissance, a sixth course was added to the lute. This illustration demonstrates the similarity of the form of the european lute. Although covering the lute s history only up to the end of the renaissance period, the book s scope is vast. In his fascinating book, a history of the lute from antiquity to the renaissance, douglas alton smith traces the lutes development from the early instruments of classical greece to its glorious flowering in renaissance europes golden age of polyphony. These instruments were extremely popular in the renaissance and baroque period and are enjoying a revival in modern times. Start studying world history chapter 12 renaissance sections 1 and 2. Lute history arthur robb, art robb, luthier, lutes, guitars.
For most of this time, the lute was a sixcourse instrument with a single top string, second and third courses strung in unison, and the lowest three courses strung in octaves. The history of the lute in europe may be divided into three phases. See more ideas about lute, renaissance music and early music. It was well established as an instrument of the court and was studied by many prosperous citizens. History of the lute from antiquity to the renaissance. In its long history the lute experienced not one, but a series of golden ages, and elizabethan and jacobean england certainly enjoyed one of these. In the renaissance era, the lute was the most popular instrument in the western world. Ample discussion of lute music repertoire, biographies of important composers, the lute s cultural and societal context, tablature notations are all included in chapters organized by geography throughout europe. First, the book provides a quick overview of the history of the guitar and lute, plus examples of. The fantasias of dowland are some of the greatest lute music of the renaissance. The board lute book download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The earliest italian source of instruction is the abovementioned capirola lute book.
Few musical instruments have had such a history of both favor and neglect as the lute. A history of the lute from antiquity to the renaissance is published by the lute society of america, and i would like to take a few moments and congratulate them for the look of the final publication. Lute history arthur robb, art robb, luthier, lutes. The most famous renaissance patrons were members of which family. Ample discussion of lute music repertoire, biographies of important composers, the lutes cultural and societal context, tablature notations are all included in chapters organized by. Petrucci, the inventor of the method for printing music with movable type, published the first book of lute music in venice in 1507. These books contained dances, suites, duets, solos and free improvisatory pieces attesting to the early. Continuo playing on the lute, archlute, and theorbo, nigel north, jan 1, 1987, music, 305 pages. First, the book provides a quick overview of the history of the guitar and lute, plus examples of early tablature for the lute.
With the development of the polyphony during the renaissance period. This has a string length of 67cm due to the 9 frets on the fingerboard. Genuinely easy pieces in books of lessons are relatively few, and all too often. I do not think there is a better book for the purpose, and i urge anyone who wants to learn the instrument to buy it. This object is a reconstruction of a renaissance lute.