The six course lute
enjoyed a working life that spanned almost the whole of
the 16th century. Early 16th century luthiers seem to
have preferred the so-called 'pearl form' - 9 or 11 broad
ribs with long sloping shoulders. The instruments in this
section are of this type.
Only two six course
lutes survive in essentially unaltered form (by Georg
Gerle and Magno Dieffopruchar). Others by such eminent
maker as Laux Maler and Hans Frei have only survived
through a process of adaption to the needs of later
musical fashions. As a consequence their original necks,
pegboxes, bridges, and internal barrings have been lost
or altered and it requires careful consideration of the
available evidence to restore these details.
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1.
Six course g' lute - 11 rib back
String length 590 mm
The
the idea for this design is based on a lute
depicted in an Marco Marziale's Cremona
Altarpiece
(National Gallery London). I prefer to build the
eleven rib back without filets. The full shaped
cross section of the back is strongly influenced
by that of the Warwick Hans Frei lute. There are
eight tied frets on the neck. Fruitwood neck and
pegbox. Heart shaped plumwood pegs.
Click
here to see
pictures
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5.
Six course Warwick Frei (tenor size)
String length: 675 mm
The
original instrument is one of the finest lutes
to survive from the 16th century. Its slender
eleven rib back has a form of particular
subtlety and elegance. The body of this
particular model is very slightly reduced
compared to the original (see below), but this
concession produces a superbly resonant tenor
lute with a very playable string length.
Click
here to see pictures
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2.
Six course g' lute - 9 rib back ('Venetian'
style)
String length 600 mm
The
design is based on representations found in
various early 16th century Venetian sources
which often show lutes with a more rounded
soundboard outline. Eight tied frets on the
neck. The neck and pegbox are usually made from
Swiss pear. Heart shaped plumwood
pegs.
Click
here to see
pictures
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6.
Six course Warwick Frei (full size version )
String length: 705 mm
This
the full sized version of one of the finest
surviving lutes from the 16th century. Its
slender eleven rib back has a form of particular
subtlety and elegance: the flattened cross
sections of the back are a feature of particualr
refinement.
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3.
Six course g' lute after Gerle
String length: 600mm .
The
date of the Gerle lute is a matter of schorlarly
specualtion and whilst estimates vary - after
1560 seems likely. With the original barring
scheme the characteristic sound of this model
makes it ideally suited for the late 16th
century lute repertory.The back is made of
eleven ribs (ash, maple, plum etc), with dark
filets. The neck and pegbox can be veneered in
contrasting stripes or made from solid
fruitwood. Heart shaped plumwood
pegs.
Click
here to see
pictures
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7.
Bass lute - Laux Maler (Victoria & Albert
Museum, London) . Tuning d'
String length: 780mm.
All
that survives of Maler's original bass lute is
the beautiful (but very cracked) back of 11
figured maple ribs. With a neck of appropriate
proportions the string length of the
reconstructed instrument is 780 mm. Fruitwood
neck and pegbox.
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4.
Six course lute after Hans Frei
String length:
640mm.
This
design in based on one of the Frei lutes in the
Vienna Kunsthistorisches Muuseum (C.34) The
original lute is undated though circa 1550 seems
a reasonable estimate. The back has 11 ribs -
figured maple, slab cut ash, or birds'eye maple
make excellent choices. Fruitwood neck and
pegbox, with heart shaped plumwood peg The lute
illustrated has a back of palisander with maple
filets. click
here to see
pictures
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