Lute is an ancient musical instrument relating to the strings family . The peak of her popularity came on the XVI century, but today you can hear her melodic sound. About what is a lute, what is the history of its occurrence, as well as a lot of things will be discussed in the article.
What it is?
Lute is a string tweezing musical instrument. He appeared in deep antiquity, and therefore it can be bolded to call the medieval.
By the way, it was the image of this tool that some nations were considered a symbol of harmony, youth and love.
Visually, a lute looks like something resembles a balalaika, domra or a Japanese string tool called Syamysen. Some consider it a close relative of the guitar, however, when compared, the difference between these two instruments is obvious. Lute is an independent, original view that has a number of its features and characteristics.
Her shape is oval or pear. In general, this musical instrument is almost completely mastered wood. To create decks, thin plates are used also made of wood. The housing assembly usually occurs from individual parts made of strong and solid trees, such as, for example, marsh, cherry, rosewood and others.
This is part of this musical instrument, like a vulture, does not hang over the deck, and it is located with it on the same level, which significantly distinguishes the lute from other musical conifers belonging to the group of strings. The neck of the tool is usually mastered from a tree with a slight weight.
As for the number of strings of Lute, then during the days of the Middle Ages there were only 4 or 5 pairs, and in the baroque era, the number of strings could reach 19. Currently, the number of paired strings on this musical instrument can be the most different - from 5 and to 16, and sometimes up to 24.
In size, the lute is quite difficult to call a big musical instrument. Its length does not reach the meter, constituting only 80 centimeters, and the weight is no more than 500 grams.
History of origin
As already mentioned Lute is a fairly old musical instrument, which appeared during the Middle Ages. Name the exact date of its appearance, as well as a specific place, unfortunately, it is impossible.
For all the time of its existence, a lute, of course, has undergone a large number of changes - the number of paired strings, the system, size, design and not only have changed.
So, something similar to our modern lute was used in ancient times in Egypt, Greece, Rome, Bulgaria, China, Kilikia and other places. In addition, at the beginning of the 7th century, similar to the type of musical instrument could be observed in Persia, and in Armenia, and in Byzantium, and even in the Arab Calipte.
On the Balkan Peninsula, such a musical instrument, like a lute with a short neck, was quite large in the 6th century as a result of its active use by Bulgarians. In the VIII century, thanks to Masters, Lutni became very popular in Spain and Catalonia.
Soon about the instrument learned almost everywhere. By the XIV century, a lute was common throughout Italy, then she moved from Palermo to Germany. So, from the XV to the XVI century, the sound of Lute was heard in Italy, and in Germany, and in Portugal.
In the XVI century, the fame of this musical instrument has reached its peak. In the era of the revival, a lute was often portrayed in the pictures of that period.
In addition, there was a large number of butterlers - musicians who performed certain melodies on the lute. There was a lot of Tortey - that was the so called masters for the manufacture of this musical instrument. Subsequently, they began to call masters for the manufacture of any musical instruments belonging to the strings group. So, the Bologna Masters L. Maleer and the city of Frey were among the best terrests of that period.
Litchi has become the main tool of both professionals and lovers. She sounded not only in houses of ordinary people, but also in the royal palaces. Lutage was so loved to everyone, including representatives of the royal blood that they began to call "the instrument of all kings."
So, by the end of XV, more than 400 musical compositions for lute were created in European countries. It is believed that people like Francesco spinachino and John Dauland have been considered the greatest importance for this musical instrument. In general, the lute was performed by a variety of musical compositions: and solo, and ensembles, accompanied by different vocalists, as well as the choras. In addition, it is quite often included in the orchestras.
Especially common and popular were such schools where they taught the creation of this kind of musical instruments. The most demanded of them was located in the Italian city of Bologna.
Some composers belonging to the baroque era were greatly influenced by this musical instrument. These names can be attributed to them as, for example, Johann Sebastian Bach, Denis Gauthier and others.
However, in the late XVII century, the popularity of Lute began to decrease, and with rapid speed. To this period there were such tools such as guitar and clusses, and a little later and piano. It was they who began to push out a lute from the list of the most sought-after musical instruments.
By the XVIII century, it was almost no longer stopped using. However, some varieties of Lute still were still quoted in countries such as Sweden, Ukraine, Germany.
Only at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries, thanks to, in particular, to such a British tool master, as Arnold Dolmech, Lutney again became interested.
By the 70th of the 20th century, this musical instrument began to be included in the musical program of concerts of different performers - both single and whole team. So, among the famous composers of this period, which created works for the game in Lithe, included people like Vladimir Vavilov, Shandro Kallos, Stefan Lungrend, as well as many others.
Sound
The sound of Lutni is rather unusual for a modern listener, it sounds like a certain monophony for him. It is remotely reminded by a guitar, but the sound of the first tool is still softer, and the timbre has some velvetyness, and he is completely saturated with overtones.
A great influence on the sound, in addition to the reception of the game, it has what material the strings of this musical instrument are made. If residential strings were previously used, that is, from natural materials, now in priority nylon strings. The difference between the sound of such strings is very noticeable, especially for a professional performer.
As for the band of lute, it is about 3 octaves. The concrete setting of a lute does not possess.
Review of species
The old musical tool Lute has a large number of varieties: soprano, theorer, baroque lute, as well as Ramian, Bandor, Cantabil, Theorb, Kitarrons and many others. Consider the most famous of them.
- Baroquic . Such a lute appeared due to experiments with its configuration in about the XVI century.
The famous performer who was a master of the game on this variety was Silvius Leopold Weiss.
- Theorbo . This variety of lute refers to the bass, it appeared in the same way as the aforementioned baroque lute, in the XVI century. The tool possesses two chalk mechanisms, as well as two resonant boxes. Usually it has 14 strings, but in the early baroque, you can meet theorem and with 19 strings.
- Mandolin . Another variety of lute. However, Mandolin is still somewhat less than the lute. This tool appeared in European countries, in southern regions. Play on it usually a plectrome such as Tremolo.
In modern times, this specification has strings made of metal.
- Lute Renaissance. This musical instrument is traditional for the Renaissance era. The tool depending on the species has different number of string pairs.
- Lunta Vanderfogel. And this kind of genus is from Germany. Vanderfogel is largely similar to the Renaissance. However, it has a large number of similar features and with the usual all guitar us: he has 6 strings and metal slices.
Starting from the middle of the 9th century, this kind was quite very popular among musical performers.
- Bandora . Bandor, like all of the above varieties, belongs to the Lutnova family.
Alas, at the moment this type is practically not used by musicians, and there are not so many tools themselves.
Application
Despite the fact that the lute appeared for quite a long time, Its prevalence in the field of music is still not reduced. Very often to see the game on this musical instrument and hear his sound can be on a different kind of concerts and even some extensive festivals. Many famous modern composers composed or still compose a fairly large number of works for lute.
This include Vavilov, Kalosh, Lundgrena, Sato, Galvano, Vissess, Danilevsky, Zvison, Savchuk and many others.
