Playing technique of European Lute

Introduction

The European lute resembles the Arabic lute because it has a deep body shaped like a pear and a bent-back neck structure. The strings of the guitar are hitched to a précis tension so as to produce a good sound. European lute itself has a very large hole that is circular. For decorations, the guitar has rose shapes on it. It is the same decoration as the Chinese décor for the chests in the baroque period. To add on the structure, the instrument was originally made of wood and fibre threads for the strings, most likely silk1.

The Lute of today of Europe is made of animal gut or nylon strings. Technology has really contributed in the development of the European Lute structure. However, the traditional skeleton has been maintained to give an authentic feel of music. Like modern guitar the type of strings will define the quality of music to be produced by the European Lute. The pear shape of the body has been maintained due to its effectiveness in music production. The design is that of the instrument called oud. This shape is also called the tortoise shell.

1John Walter, Hill. Baroque music: music in Western Europe, 1580-1750. (New York: W.W.

Norton, 2010. Print.)

Background Information on the Lute

There is a system developed to play the European lute. The Lute has however been improved over the years. Traditional European Lute players are the ones who made the system used to play. The music was then written with tablature. Tablature is a musical writing technique which involves staff to represent the course. The fret was noted by letters or figures.

The European Lute is a musical instrument made of parallel strings attached to its soundboard, by a distinct pole. The European lute got its name from an Arab instrument called “Ud” which means the wood2. In Europe, the lute was popular between the 16th century and the 17th century. This was especially in the renaissance period as well as the baroque period. The origin of the lute, as musical instrument, is traced the Middle East countries like Iran which was then Persian. The European Lute first entered into Europe through the Spain territory.

General structure of the lute

It is good to say that the instrument was widely used in the entire of Europe and the neighboring countries. The strings on the lute are six in number and each has its own sound, which is the chord. The chords are c, G, f, a, d and g’. The chords are arranged well. The second G chord is below the chord C. This has made it possible for the European Lute to be mastered, practiced and played good in the Europe continent.

The lutes have double strings which are tuned to octave. The higher strings are tuned as unisons and in harmony good sound is produced. The sound produced by the European Lute is of different timbre than guitar itself. It still depends on type of guitar strings to produce a brighter sound. Therefore not all European Lutes sound the same 3.

2Matthew, Spring. The lute in Britain: a history of the instrument and its music. (Oxford: Oxford

University Press, 2011. Print.)

3Christopher, Meeder. Jazz: the basics. (New York: Routledge, 2008. Print.)

How the European Lute is played

To play the European Lute you had to learn from elites in the music field. Playing the lute was regarded a profession like any other and was highly paid. The structural features contribute greatly in the playing technique. The fret was to be stopped and the strings plucked by the right hand. This is how the music was made using this lute. The strings were plucked in a systematic manner to give professional touch4.

The technique used in playing the Lute is referred to as plucking. Being a string instrument, it resembles the guitar and how they played can be described as similar to each other. It is used in song accompaniment to develop good and sound music. Nevertheless, the playing technique differs a little. The lute produces little volume than the guitar of same size. It is thought that the light nature of the Lute contribute to a more responsive instrument of music.

When played well, though fickle and complicated it produces beautiful music you will ever hear. The fact that music produced by the Lute has characteristic beauty, made it to be preferred by ancient Europeans. However, the modern people of Europe have learned how to play the guitar by plucking and have forgotten the lute they once used. The lute as explained in various music books had to be played by professionals who were highly paid by the monarchs during events.

4Thomas D., Rossing. The science of string instruments. (New York: Springer, 2010. Print.)

Functions of the European Lute

The Lute of Europe that I prefer to call European Lute had its functions in music and in Europe as whole. In music, the music instrument led to the development of many other string instruments like the lute guitar which is modernly used5. The singers were able to make good quality music over the years even without the use of modern technology.

During royal events, the Lute was played by professionally renowned musicians. The professionals who had gathered skill from all over Europe served as entertainment to the people of Europe. Traditionally, the lutes were played by monks of different denominations in the continent of Europe. It is therefore correct to conclude that the European Lute was ceremonial and it helped in honoring certain moods of the people.

The lute was also traded for goods by Spanish traders who traversed the continent together with Arab traders. Arabs were highly influenced to adapt to the European version of the lute because they considered it to be a part of evolution in which they anticipated. Interest drawn to the instrument by the society brought about the development of different music genres and hence the diversity in music6.

Social solidarity was contributed to by the specified instrument. It is true that the lute is created in a society setting, hence carries with it the values and beliefs of the Europeans. Music education both in the past and present was and has been made easy and possible y the lute to a certain capacity. Studies like organology, which is the learning of music instruments, has developed as the result of the lute. The presence of this ancient objet has led to the relation of events in history.

4Thomas D., Rossing. The science of string instruments. (New York: Springer, 2010. Print.)

5Kenny, Mathieson. Celtic music. (San Francisco, CA: Backbeat Books, 2009. Print.)

6Esther, Vilar. Oud. (Amsterdam: De Centaur/Omega Boek, 2011. Print.)

Works Cited

Hill, John Walter. Baroque music: music in Western Europe, 1580-1750. New York: W.W.

Norton, 2010. Print.

Spring, Matthew. The lute in Britain: a history of the instrument and its music. Oxford: Oxford

University Press, 2011. Print.

Mathieson, Kenny. Celtic music. San Francisco, CA: Backbeat Books, 2009. Print.

Meeder, Christopher. Jazz: the basics. New York: Routledge, 2008. Print.

Rossing, Thomas D.. The science of string instruments. New York: Springer, 2010. Print.

Vilar, Esther. Oud. Amsterdam: De Centaur/Omega Boek, 2011. Print.