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Thread: Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Chapel

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    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
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    Default Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Chapel



    All cherry with a spruce soundboard and boxwood pegs.
    This build was commissioned based on these sources from the Capella Palatina in Italy:
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

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    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Cha

    Really nice, well done.
    I have some questions. I was looking at the images, is that some sort of material hanging in front of the fret board? It seems to be on both images, and they seem to be linked, by the same artist? Or is one a copy of the other? And is one Turkish? And are they both doing incense? Sorry, so many questions but now I'm intrigued, and what's the tuning?

    Also I took a look at the chapel itself, it seems that they used to like gold... like quite a lot! Check this out, amazing:
    https://www.google.com/search?q=Capp...wV86vJrYyUjoM:

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    Lurkist dhergert's Avatar
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    Default Re: Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Cha

    Hmmm, I wonder if that was some sort of strap. Looks like it runs under the strings, perhaps allows the instrument to be carried on the back?
    -- Don

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    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Cha

    Quote Originally Posted by atsunrise View Post
    Really nice, well done.
    I have some questions. I was looking at the images, is that some sort of material hanging in front of the fret board? It seems to be on both images, and they seem to be linked, by the same artist? Or is one a copy of the other? And is one Turkish? And are they both doing incense? Sorry, so many questions but now I'm intrigued, and what's the tuning?

    Also I took a look at the chapel itself, it seems that they used to like gold... like quite a lot! Check this out, amazing:
    https://www.google.com/search?q=Capp...wV86vJrYyUjoM:
    I'm not sure what that material is. The person commissioning wanted a short neck, so I interpreted the bit under the material as being part of the body. My only guess is that it's maybe some sort of strap? Though having it under the strings seems like it'd get in the way.
    They are two different pictures from the Capella Palatina, not copies. As far as I'm aware, it was built over the course of 10 years, so it's possible it's the same artist but that's lost to history.
    I think this was during he Norman reign of Sicily and southern Italy, so probably not Turkish. It's possible that is incense, but the one on the right looks more like a jug to me.
    It is tuned DADG but that is just because that's a tuning that works, not a historical precedent.
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

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    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Cha

    Interesting time, Norman mercenary music meets the Orient...
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm...southern_Italy

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    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Cha

    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

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    Registered User sebastiaan56's Avatar
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    Default Re: Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Cha

    Very cool. Did you make a mold for the shell or go freestyle like the Oud makers do?

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    Default Re: Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Cha

    Quote Originally Posted by sebastiaan56 View Post
    Very cool. Did you make a mold for the shell or go freestyle like the Oud makers do?
    Hopefully this should answer your question: https://dusepo.wordpress.com/2018/04...alatina-style/
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

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    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Cha

    Quote Originally Posted by Dusepo View Post
    I think this was during he Norman reign of Sicily and southern Italy, so probably not Turkish. It's possible that is incense, but the one on the right looks more like a jug to me.
    It is tuned DADG but that is just because that's a tuning that works, not a historical precedent.
    Definitely Norman Sicily, taken over from the Arabs that ruled Sicily before. No Turkish influence, although definitely Byzantine influence as the Arabs took over from them in Sicily.

    This was a time when Sicily was at the forefront of Europe - some claim the Renaissance began in Sicily with the interchange of ideas between Christians, Arabs and Jews.

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    Default Re: Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Cha

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidKOS View Post
    ...some claim the Renaissance began in Sicily with the interchange of ideas between Christians, Arabs and Jews.
    Very interesting. I've heard the same said about Al-Andalus with those 3 faiths .
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

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    Default Re: Early medieval lute based on Cappella Palatina / Palatine Cha

    If you have the time (and stamina) The Great Sea is worth a read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gr..._Mediterranean

    I am using it for holiday reading, it's done 3 so far and I am only up to the siege of Malta.
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