I was very passionate about the lute for about 15 years, recording a number of CDs and playing many concerts, both as a soloist and a member of various ensembles. My principal interest was the Scottish lute repertoire, a repertoire which, for some, I became associated with. But these days my lute interest has turned towards the music of Silvius Leopold Weiss, a contemporary of J.S. Bach, and Count Losy. I’m expecting the lute to arrive from Malcolm Prior sometime before the summer months, and I will post here any videos I make, mp3 files and thoughts regarding the instrument and its repertoire. EDIT: the lute has arrived! See this post.
Here is a recording I did at home of a rather beautiful piece by John Dowland, and on the MP3 page on this site you can hear and download recordings I have made on various lutes.
How does one best hold a lute? The guitar is conveniently shaped to sit on the lap of the player, but how does one stop the lute trying to escape?
Dear Myscha,
It is indeed a problem. Some players use a strap, others use a piece of a rubber mat between their body and the lute, which helps keep it still. They are not the easiest of instruments to hold, but don’t let that put you off playing one!