Lute
The lute is a string instrument with historical significance, primarily prominent during the medieval and Renaissance periods. It is related to modern string instruments such as the guitar and violin, deriving from the Arabic ud, which means "the wood." The lute gained popularity in Europe due to its portability, versatility, and rich sound, becoming one of the most important instruments of its time. Its construction features a hollow body that amplifies sound and pairs of strings known as courses, which are tuned slightly differently to create harmonious melodies. The lute typically has a long neck and a fretboard where players can press the strings to alter pitch. Over the centuries, the lute evolved to include more courses, with Renaissance models commonly featuring six, and some exotic variations possessing up to ten courses. Although the lute is not widely played today, it is cherished by music enthusiasts and is often featured in historical music reproductions.
Subject Terms
Lute
The lute is a string instrument that was used primarily in the medieval and Renaissance periods. It has the same ancestors as the modern guitar and violin. While lutes are rarely used today, they are still played by music enthusiasts and in reproductions of historic medieval and Renaissance musical pieces.
Construction of a Lute
The largest part of the lute is its hollow body. The body may be made of a variety of types of wood and is reinforced by strong ribbing on its interior. The size of the body varies by the time period in which it was made and the size of the person for which it was crafted.
A lute's strings are mounted toward the back of the body. The strings are stretched over the body, which provides a resonating chamber for the strings' vibrations, increasing the volume of the sound. Lute strings are divided into pairs called courses. Each string in a course is tuned slightly differently than the one above it. These courses are often played as one string each.
The neck of the lute is a long, wooden protrusion attached to the body. The back of the neck is often rounded, while the front is flat. The fretboard, a long, smooth, periodically marked wooden board, is attached to the flat side of the neck. A lute's courses are stretched over the fretboard. Pressing down on the strings at various points of the fretboard effectively shortens the strings, increasing and decreasing their pitch and allowing different notes to be played. The strings finally attach to the headstock, a protrusion at the top of the neck that contains a variety of pegs. The strings wind around these pegs, allowing the lute player to adjust the tension in each string.
History of the Lute
The earliest ancestor of the lute is the Arabic ud, a similar instrument that was played for centuries. The word "lute" is derived from the Arabic term al ud, meaning "the wood." Many historians speculate that it was the Muslim Moors who brought the instrument to Europe when they invaded Spain in the eighth century B.C.E.
The instrument became extremely popular in medieval Europe for its versatility, portability, and pleasing sound. It was less expensive to own and maintain than keyboard-based instruments, yet still provided a substantial range of notes. At several points in history, the lute was commonly regarded as the most important instrument in existence.
Throughout the Renaissance, more courses were added to the lute. While early lutes had only five courses, Renaissance lutes often contained six. As early as 1511, deeper strings were added to the lute, allowing for a bass accompaniment to be played along with the melody on a single instrument. Some exotic lutes contained as many as ten courses.
Bibliography
Guy, Paul. "A Brief History of the Guitar." GuyGuitars.com. Paul Guy. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. http://www.guyguitars.com/eng/handbook/BriefHistory.html
Robb, Arthur. "History of the Lute." Art-Robb.Co.Uk. Arthur Robb - Luthier. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. http://www.art-robb.co.uk/hist.html
"Thinking of Taking Up the Lute?" TheLuteSociety.org. The Lute Society. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. http://www.lutesociety.org/pages/thinking-of-taking-up-the-lute
"About the Lute." TheLuteSociety.org. The Lute Society. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. http://www.lutesociety.org/pages/about-the-lute