What was the purpose of the lute?

What was the purpose of the lute?

The lute was an important instrument because it could be used to perform accompaniment to songs, to create dance music, and to be featured alone in solo pieces. It was also less expensive than keyboard instruments and could be taken anywhere to perform.

Who made the lute famous?

In the first decades of the eighteenth century, lute music was revolutionized in Germany by lute player and composer Silvius Leopold Weiss. His musical ideas made it necessary to extend the number of strings, giving birth to the thirteen-course lute.

Why was the lute so popular?

In the Renaissance era, the lute was the most popular instrument in the Western world. It became the symbol of the magic and power of music. The lute was the instrument of kings and queens, playing the sublime music of great composers. The lute was heard in the theatre in the incidental music of Shakespeare’s plays.

Did the lute become the guitar?

People will often ask me, “What is a lute?” In truth, the history of the lute is a long one and I often simply explain that it’s like a guitar with more strings. The lute is a descendent of the oud, which was most likely brought to Western Europe by the Moors in the 9th century, when they occupied Spain.

Why do lutes have bent necks?

Lutes are hollow instruments with short necks and strings. This bend helps keep the tension on the strings and keeps the lute in tune. As with many stringed instruments, such as the guitar, autoharp, or banjo, the lute player produces sound by plucking the strings.

What does a lute symbolize?

The lute as a visual trope is rich with historical symbolism. From ancient times it has symbolized youth and love; it is a symbol of harmony or, if a string is broken, dischord. The instrument has its roots in Arabic history, but came to Europe during the middle ages.

How old are lutes?

Lutes were in widespread use in Europe at least since the 13th century, and documents mention numerous early performers and composers. However, the earliest surviving lute music dates from the late 15th century.

Is the lute hard to learn?

The lute attracted the attention of the most accomplished musicians in its day, and so some of the repertoire is very hard, but at the same time, the simplest lute music can sound truly beautiful if played with a correct basic technique. …

What do you call a lute player?

It is also an accompanying instrument in vocal works. The player of a lute is called a lutenist, lutanist or lutist, and a maker of lutes (or any similar string instrument, or violin family instruments) is referred to as a luthier.

Does a lute have a bent neck?

Lutes are hollow instruments with short necks and strings. The strings are held tight by pegs in the lute’s very distinctive pegbox. The pegbox is bent back to almost a 90º angle from the fingerboard. This bend helps keep the tension on the strings and keeps the lute in tune.

How expensive is a lute?

All lutes are custom made instruments, and therefore they tend to be expensive. A used Larry Brown student lute, the “standard” of the beginner’s lute world, goes for $1500 USA these days, give or take $500.

Are lutes hard to play?

Playing the lute is an enormously enjoyable and satisfying pastime. The lute attracted the attention of the most accomplished musicians in its day, and so some of the repertoire is very hard, but at the same time, the simplest lute music can sound truly beautiful if played with a correct basic technique.

Which is an example of a lute in music?

Written By: Lute, in music, any plucked or bowed chordophone whose strings are parallel to its belly, or soundboard, and run along a distinct neck or pole. In this sense, instruments such as the Indian sitar are classified as lutes.

Why was the lute important in the Renaissance?

The Lute A Brief History In the Renaissance era, the lute was the most popular instrument in the Western world. It became the symbol of the magic and power of music. The lute was the instrument of kings and queens, playing the sublime music of great composers.

Where did the lute family instruments come from?

Lute-family instruments penetrated from East and Southeast Asia through Central Asia and the Middle East, through North Africa, Europe and Scandinavia. These days, lute-family instruments are used worldwide. 4.7.3 Cythara, a European lute-building tradition?

What kind of accompaniment does a lute player use?

The lute player either improvises (“realizes”) a chordal accompaniment based on the figured bass part, or plays a written-out accompaniment (both music notation and tablature (“tab”) are used for lute). As a small instrument, the lute produces a relatively quiet sound.