The Lute in Britain
A History of the Instrument and its Music
Published on 26. July 2001
Book
Hardback
568 pages
978-0-19-816620-7 (ISBN)
Description
The lute was one of the most important instruments in use in Europe from late medieval times up to the eighteenth century, as a solo instrument, in combination with other instruments, or with the voice. Despite its acknowledged importance this study is the first ever comprehensive work on the instrument and its music, apart from performance studies or bibliographical and reference publications.
While Spring focuses on the lute in Britain, he also includes two chapters devoted to continental developments: one on the transition from medieval to renaissance, the other on renaissance to baroque, and the lute in Britain is never treated in isolation. Six chapters cover all aspects of the lute's history and its music in England from 1285 to well into the eighteenth century, whilst other chapters cover the instruments early history, the lute in concert, lute song accompaniment, the thearbo, and the lute in Scotland. Writing for the music student, the serious listener, the player, maker, and lute enthusiast, Spring makes available for the first time, over 40 years of musical scholarship previously the preserve of academic journals.
While Spring focuses on the lute in Britain, he also includes two chapters devoted to continental developments: one on the transition from medieval to renaissance, the other on renaissance to baroque, and the lute in Britain is never treated in isolation. Six chapters cover all aspects of the lute's history and its music in England from 1285 to well into the eighteenth century, whilst other chapters cover the instruments early history, the lute in concert, lute song accompaniment, the thearbo, and the lute in Scotland. Writing for the music student, the serious listener, the player, maker, and lute enthusiast, Spring makes available for the first time, over 40 years of musical scholarship previously the preserve of academic journals.
Reviews / Votes
Undoubtedly, this book will become a standard reference work and should be found in every music library in the world. * Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society * A "must" for scholars of English and Scottish music and the ever-growing number of players in the international lute community, it should also be of interest to instrument makers and researchers for the wealth of information it provides on the physical nature of the instruments, which is meticulously documented by a combination of iconography, music sources, and contemporary writings. * Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society * The Lute in Britain has been beautifully produced ... The vast amount of information it contains, its presentation, the extremely useful tables of music sources and iconography, and the wonderful selection of illustrations make it well worth the price. * Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society * Matthew Spring has written the first full-length history of the lute and its repertory to appear in print ... For a single scholar to have undertaken such a comprehensive study is remarkable; that he has accomplished it in such a masterly fashion is nothing short of amazing. * Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society * A major work of scholarship. This book will prove rewarding and indispensable not only to those who love the lute but to all who love English music. * Early Music Today * It is a veritable compendium of almost all that is known of the subject, and it is to be heartily welcomed ... An ardent lutenist will devour every page with enthusiasm - and there are many welcome surprises for even the most well-read lute enthusiast ... the scholarship is impeccable ... a work of considerable scholarship, highly readable for the enthusiast and specialist. * Early Music * Well-organised and easy to use for reference without recourse to the index ... full of well-selected music examples. * Early Music Review *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Illustrations
numerous halftones and music examples
Dimensions
Height: 256 mm
Width: 196 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
1373 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-816620-7 (9780198166207)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
10/2006
Oxford University Press
€165.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Content
Note to the Reader ; 1. Introduction ; 2. The Lute in England before 1500 ; 3. From Medieval to Renaissance: A Continental Excursus, 1480-1530 ; 4. The Early and Mid-Renaissance Periods (1500-1580) ; 5. The Golden Age, Part I (1580-1603) ; 6. The Lute in Consort ; 7. The Golden Age, Part II (1603-1625) ; 8. The Lute in Song Accompaniment ; 9. From Renaissance to Baroque: A Continental Excursus, 1600-1650 ; 10. The Caroline and the Commonwealth Periods (1625-1660) ; 11. The Theorbo ; 12. The Decline of the Lute in England after 1660 ; 13. Scottish Lute Music ; Bibliography ; Manuscripts ; Printed Music ; Book, Theses, and Articles ; Index