Cittern Centre / Centro Cetra

[Eugene]

This comes to me from Doc Rossi (docrossi@aruba.it), a specialist in baroque-era citterns like English guittar. I own and enjoy his Magnatune disc; it's groovy. Doc also launched the historic cittern discusion group hosted by Dartmouth University (I posted word on that here when it first happened). I'm not so into citterns as a player, but I find Doc's effort to be potentially exciting and thought some of you might want to explore getting on board.


Hi,

I'm in the process of setting up an international non-profit organization for the cittern. I've drafted a mission statement (below), and I'd like to hear your comments on it. At the moment it is not associated with any larger organization; it's simply being established as a private foundation, but one in which donors receive a tax break. I'm setting it up in Italy for now, but am looking at other options. It will need an advisory board. I'm also considering whether having memberships might be a good idea.

Thanks for your input,

Doc Rossi
www.magnatune.com/artists/docrossi (http://www.magnatune.com/artists/docrossi)

Cittern Centre / Centro Cetra
The Cittern Centre is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the cittern and its music in its many forms by establishing and maintaining a museum of antique and modern instruments; by encouraging and supporting research into the cittern and its music; by publishing music editions; by recording and publishing CDs and DVDs featuring the cittern; by teaching through individual lessons, courses, workshops, seminars and conferences; by holding concerts and a festival dedicated to the cittern and its music around the world.

[Eugene]

Well, any thoughts? Is anybody looking to get on board? Has anybody sought correspondence with Doc?

[Eugene]

Ah well...I tried.

[Sittius]

Dunno Eugene...

At least there hasn't been a whirlwind of negative, off-topic responses that currently plague certain Dartmouth lists beginning with the letter "L" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

I'll be sure to contact Doc Rossi, but in the meantime, maybe you could give a brief description of the historical cittern and its place in musical history ( Holborne et al ). That might spark some interest. Many people think that all citterns are of the modern variety. One of my cousins thinks that a cittern is an ancient water receptacle. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif


All the best,

Sit

[Eugene]

I love the posturing and scholarly quibbling on the Dartmouth lists! #...Not to mention all the Sautscheckerei.

I like that Doc is looking to champion both "antique and modern instruments," and I thought the latter might attract a few of the Irish and Scottish crowd who frequent these parts. #On historic citterns--things called names like cittern, orpharion, bandora, English guittar, bell cittern, cyster, etc.--I would refer the curious to instruments by Barber & Harris (http://www.lutesandguitars.co.uk/htm/cat05.htm), the writings and recordings of Rob MacKillop (http://www.musicintime.co.uk/cittern.htm), Lindberg's (http://www.musicamano.com/) and O'Dette's (http://www.harmoniamundi.com/usa/album_fiche.php?album_id=164) Dowland recordings (on four and five discs respectively) that each feature some works on orpharion, and broken consort music performed by the Julian Bream Consort, the Baltimore Consort, and the Musicians of Swanne Alley, all of which feature renaissance cittern pretty prominantly. #Also, check out the fingerstyle archcittern of local guy (well, local to me) Vince Conaway (http://www.vinceconaway.com/frames/disc/misccyth.html).

[Sittius]

Yeah. Ain't it the the truth? But the Dartmouth list does have guts...or is that nylguts - LOL!

Speaking of Swanne Alley, do you know anyone who has their " IN THE STREETS AND THEATRES OF LONDON " album? I had it on cassette and it finally wore out ( must remember to back up media ). Apparently it's "Out of print" and there's one track on there that I'm going mad trying to remember. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Like I said, I'll contact Doc Rossi. I'd love to get a little more involved with the cittern. I keep thinking about building one of the historical variety, so....


All the best,

Sit

[Eugene]

Speaking of Swanne Alley, do you know anyone who has their " IN THE STREETS AND THEATRES OF LONDON " album? I had it on cassette and it finally wore out ( must remember to back up media ). Apparently it's "Out of print" and there's one track on there that I'm going mad trying to remember.
I own that disc. It's great fun. Can I help with your recollecting?

[Sittius]

I can only remember it being a bouncy tune which felt like it was being played in Jam session style. Different instruments would take a turn at the theme. It seems like it was on the B side of the cassette. Oddly enough,when I was visiting someone in England last year, they played a phrase of the piece, but before I could stop them to ask what the title was, someone else interrupted ,and you know how that old story goes! - LOL


I've written to Doc, BTW.

All the best,

Sit

[Eugene]

I think you must have their treatment of Greensleeves in mind, Sit.

[Sittius]

Nope. Not Greensleeves. I definitely remember Greensleeves from that album . Odette was the lutenist, I think. Whoever it was did some impressive scale runs in the finale of that one!

Could I have been thinking of Stingo, maybe. I remember that at least one wire strung instrument was used ( cittern/orpharion). It may not be on side 2. It was a very bouncy piece of music.

And once again, the Cittern Centre is back to the top - LOL


Sit