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Two Pieces by Hans Judenkönig
These come from a self-instruction manual published by Judenkönig around 1515. I have already recorded the second piece, but it makes a nice pairing with the first one here, so I put them together. The first piece is called Madonna Katerina, and the second is Christ Ist Erstanden.
I also decided to try playing while standing, since my lute has a strap.
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Eric Phillips Nicely played, Eric. Those are nice, very Renaissance with modal harmonies and frequent cadences.
I have a few suggestions for your performance presentation seeing your new pose and especially the first pieces 'power chords'.
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Jack Stewart
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Eric Phillips That's it! I like that you are using Marshal stacks - good projection.
Now pick it with your teeth and smash the lute on your dining table.
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Eric Phillips Jack Stewart haha... Eric the Lute Star!
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Blaise Laflamme Jack Stewart Pretty girls swoon when they hear me play the lute!
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Eric Phillips a pleasure to listen to as always!
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Manolis Thank you, Manolis!
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Eric Phillips looks like I missed that thread, too much days out of the loop! It looks like you really enjoy the lute, great to hear you post your progress though these pieces. I have not played a lot of renaissance music, just read a few pieces, and among them my favorite ones where from da Milano, beautiful music. Thanks for sharing!
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks, Blaise. I think da Milano and Dowland are the real gold standard of the era. I better work on some Dowland!
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Joan Ambrosio Dalza - Tastar de Corde and Recercar Dietro
Almost nothing is known of Dalza's life. His only first-hand compositions are found in the fourth volume of Intabolatura de lauto (Venice, 1508), an influential series of books of lute music published by the Venetian printer Ottaviano Petrucci. A "Tastar de Corde" is like an improvisatory prelude, and the Recercar that follows is related to it in key and content.
On another note, I did the unthinkable today. I CUT OFF MY RIGHT HAND NAILS!!!!! (see photo below). I accidentally broke the nail on my ring finger last night, and since I have been toying with the idea of cutting them off so I could play the lute better, I decided to take the plunge. Worst case scenario? I hate it and grow them back. So far, I can't stand playing without nails, but I haven't really given it a fair chance yet. I haven't even tried to play the guitar (I'm too afraid I might cry
).Let me know what you think of the sound. I'm still not playing with "correct" lute technique. I keep trying, but I just can't get it sounding close to anything musical. I just get frustrated and have to put the lute down.
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Eric Phillips That is sounding pretty musical to me. Your lute playing continues to improve and shine.
I use all fake nails on my RH (a, m, and i) because my nails have deteriorated so bad. I don't like it but my only other option is to go nailless which I don't have the courage yet. Let me know if you ever acclimate to no nails on the guitar.
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Eric Phillips Love listening to your lute music, Eric. Compare to your previous videos, I didn't find any big difference in sound, they all sound beautiful. Were lutes supposed to be played without nails? I am a big fan of short nails because I make bread and pizza at home sometimes, and I don't what the dough gets in my nails (it was hard to clean them up).
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Eric Phillips what a lovely lute sound, so pure and intimate. It’s bringing those old times straight to my soul. Very nice playing.
I don’t even want to think about what this means for your guitar playing: how does Lagrima sound without your nails?
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Wai Thanks, Wai. From what I understand, most lutenists do play without nails. With the strings in pairs (courses), it can be tricky making them sound as one note with nails. Also, using the more standard right-hand position they say works better without nails. I, however, find it difficult to get it sounding good without my nails. It's particularly difficult for my ring finger. I'd love to get some individual guidance from an expert teacher, but I'm just not able to afford lessons right now.
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joosje Thanks, Joosje. I tried playing guitar very briefly yesterday without my nails. It felt strange. I played through both Lagrima and Adelita. The ring finger is particular difficult for me to make sound good. Also, whenever I go to play something on a treble string with my thumb, it sounds bad.
I find myself still trying to find that spot where the flesh meets the nail, but with such short nails, it's harder to find that spot accurately. I wonder if it would work better if I actually pluck with all flesh. Maybe I just need to be more patient, but I find it very annoying right now. I've heard from people who play classical without nails that it can take months or even years to change one's technique. I'm not sure I am up to that!
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Jack Stewart Thanks, Jack. What kind of fake nails do you use? Can they be put on and taken off without too much difficulty? I'm just wondering if it is a viable option for me to use fake nails when playing guitar, but no nails when playing lute.
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Eric Phillips The one's I use are glue on, not removable from Strings by Mail. They are not very good for my nails, but my nails are unusable anyway.
There were some removable nails that used glue dots but I have never used them and can't find them anymore. I just saw a YouTube on some finger picks for classical guitar (TipTonic and Alaska nails). I know nothing about them. I might consider them after some more research.
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Jack Stewart Hmm ... fingerpicks for classical! I'll have to check that out. If they actually work, that would be ideal, wouldn't it?
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Eric Phillips Update / correction. Tiptonic - (one word) and Alaska pik (not nail).
Tiptonic is a system that uses adhesive but is apparently designed to be removed and reused. It is fairly expensive up front.
Alaska Pik are Individual picks the slide under your nail and clamp on the back side of your finger. Also designr=ed to be removable and reusable.
They both have websites
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Rhona's Tune
This is an anonymous ditty that is found in Jane Pickeringe's Lute Book. It's found at the very bottom of a page, and was probably snuck in so as not to waste space on the page. Below I posted a picture of the manuscript tablature, which I love looking at. (I decided to put a repeat after measure 8, just to make it a bit longer.) This tune always sounds Celtic to me, like it would have been written by Turlough O'Carolan.
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Eric Phillips That was lovely Eric. I thought it was going to be a Beach Boys tune at first (Help me Rhona. Help, help me Rhona....sorry - it's the age thing).
This piece sounds wonderful on the lute, enhanced by your excellent performance. Move over Julian.
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Jack Stewart Thanks, Jack. I found out after making this video that Rhona's Tune is not the real name. I have the music in a Mel Bay book by Robb MacKillop. It's actually untitled, but he calls it Rhona's Tune because he would often play it for his daughter Rhona.
Recently, I've decided to devote my practice time toward learning the RH lute technique known as "thumb under" which really is the way the instrument would have been played in the 16th century (especially the earlier music, before the addition of extra bass courses). Nigel North gave me some feedback that inspired me to really want to learn it. As a result, I'm only practicing some exercises, scales, and just a couple very simple pieces. I'm not sure when I'll be ready to post anything. I miss not having a community challenge, but this is my own challenge right now.
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Eric Phillips If you're still wanting to post something, once you get more comfortable with the technique, I'd be curious to have you show the period-appropriate technique. Nothing substantial necessarily but just the basics because I'm curious but have no idea and the times I have looked it up, weren't all that helpful.
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Steve Price So here is a video I made explaining and demonstrating "thumb in" technique on the lute. At the end, I (badly) play a couple short pieces to demonstrate.
The scores (in tablature) are posted below the video. The notes with a dot below are played with the index finger. The other notes are played with the thumb (or the middle finger, if the thumb is being used for a bass note).
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Eric Phillips Wow, that's really interesting. I never understood why nails were an issue until I saw the hand position. Doesn't seem like it would work with nails or at least really be awkward. I wonder how someone like Bream seemed to always be working on both instruments?
It also made me realize how much more is going on in the sound of the notes. I could be wrong but it seems to be a sharper initial attack with much more complex tones overall.
Thanks for sharing that.
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
