Interesting instrument
Interesting instrument
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"Life is short. Play hard." - AlanN
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I conducted a performance of Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610, we used one of those. It was 20 years ago in New Jersey; I can't remember the player just now but I remember he insisted I not refer to it as a "bass lute," which is a different instrument. Wonderful sound, very 1610!
They're really cool. The baroque group I play with is fortunate enough to have a theorbo. If you're sitting to the player's left, watch your head! Very cool sound. Here's another example of one—some of the comments are pretty entertaining.
So a theorbo is sort of like a Pete Seeger model lute. Taken to an extreme.
I have been watching eBay for over a year now waiting for a beat up theorbo to surface. If I see one for $50 or so, I'm gonna snag it.
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Those are very cool.
I played one at an early music festival in London back in the 80s.
It was a little bit overwhelming in size, but cool none the less.
I played Renaissance Lute in my teens.
This family of instruments are lovely to play.
The tone is angelic, with a sort of built in reverb.
Very delicately built though.
You have to be very gentle with them.
Mandolins: Northfield 5-Bar Artist Model "Old Dog", J Bovier F5 Special, Gibson A-00 (1940)
Fiddles: 1920s Strad copy, 1930s Strad copy, Liu Xi T20, Liu Xi T19+ Dark.
Guitars: Taylor 514c (1995), Gibson Southern Jumbo (1940s), Gibson L-48 (1940s), Les Paul Custom (1978), Fender Strat (Black/RWFB) (1984), Fender Strat (Candy Apple Red/MFB) (1985).
Sitars: Hiren Roy KP (1980s), Naskar (1970s), Naskar (1960s).
Misc: 8 Course Lute (L.K.Brown)
Good stuff. "Almost thou persuades me to buy a theorbo." (Acts 26:28, paraphrased) Sting does a good job. His axe looks different--shorter--than the theorbo I saw on the vid on FB. Still nice.
I want an oud too, catmandu2. I lived in Lebanon as a kid and had one as a decoration. I want one to PLAY now. It has that earthy Middle Eastern sound that I love.
Henry, I wonder how much the shipping would be on a six-foot long $50 theorbo. Will USPS or FedEx even take something that long? You would want at least a seven-foot box for it.
Jim
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19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
BluesPreacher, Sting's theorbo is a bit different and shorter because the one in the first video is a period piece (or a fairly accurate reproduction of one). I was watching a series of videos on period instruments used by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment when I found that one on the theorbo.
LouiseNM, as a cellist, you might be interested in watching some of the other videos (baroque cello, baroque viola, etc.). I've enjoyed the series thus far; the giant old contrabassoon is something to hear.
The entire series playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...KRg8Ft-ttK4_Eh
WWW.THEAMATEURMANDOLINIST.COM
----------------------------------
"Life is short. Play hard." - AlanN
----------------------------------
HEY! The Cafe has Social Groups, check 'em out. I'm in these groups:
Newbies Social Group | The Song-A-Week Social
The Woodshed Study Group | Blues Mando
- Advice For Mandolin Beginners
- YouTube Stuff
Pro tip: don't play an instrument that you can be hanged from—unless you can really pull it off!
I remember with joy and laughter Jim's theorbazooka montage. I also recall managing an event at Lincoln Center during my arts management days. Auditions season had started and a theorbo player was expected to arrive any minute as part of some early music ensemble. Suddenly, the intercom rang from the security desk downstairs, asking to speak to me. "A gentleman is here to see you", said the guard. "He has, ah... something with him. He says it's an instrument."
And I thought I've had a rough life, playing the double bass professionally over the past 40 years...
Enjoy your nifty, portable mandolins, friends!
Cheers,
Victor
It is not man that lives but his work. (Ioannis Kapodistrias)
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