The rarest theorbo - Allegro by E. G. Baron played on the German Theorbo by Chris Hirst
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- #theorbo #theorbomusic #lute #tiorba #theorbe
The German theorbo is a rare instrument, with very few surviving originals or modern copies in the world. The original Italian theorbo was invented in the early 17th century, adapting a bass lute to make it more powerful and better able to accompany singers. A long extension was added to the neck to accommodate several low bass strings, which stretch from the bridge up to a second pegbox. These strings can only be played open with the right thumb, and are tuned in a scale to the key of the piece being played. Using the plain gut strings of the time, the string had to be that long to sound at such a low pitch. Later, wound strings were invented but the plain gut basses were retained on the theorbo as they ring on less and have a distinctive and powerful tone. The Italian theorbo was very popular as an accompanying instrument during the 17th century, from solo songs to large ensembles and opera.
During the 18th century the Italian theorbo was still used, but in Germany the great lutenist Silvius Leopold Weiss (1686 - 1750) experimented with adapting his instruments in the early 1720s. He wanted an instrument that used the same D minor tuning as on the lute (the Italian theorbo tuning is totally different) but with the power and volume of the larger theorbo. Ernst Gottlieb Baron (1696 - 1760) who composed this Allegro mentions the German theorbo several times in his writings. Baron wrote an important lute treatise in 1727, and it seems by this time the D minor theorbo was standard in Germany, only a few years after Weiss ‘invented’ it. Baron says that the theorbo had the same tuning as the lute, but without the top (F) string, and with one or two extra bass notes. The fingerboard strings were double except for the highest string and the basses on the second pegbox single.
The most important surviving instrument of this type was made by the master lute maker Sebastian Schelle in 1728. The instrument is kept in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremburg. This theorbo is very large, with a fingerboard string length of 86cm and the basses are 160cm. This is on the upper limit of scale length with the top string at D (A=415). The instrument played in the video is a copy of the Schelle theorbo, but slightly scaled down to 80cm. This was so that the top string would not be so thin, and it also offers more possibilities to play solo music.
Historically, the German theorbo was mainly used for basso continuo accompaniments; Baron stated “melodies are played on the lute; the theorbo, on the other hand, was developed exclusively for accompanying”. For this reason, there are no surviving sources of solo music for the German theorbo, so the closest thing is to adapt music written for the baroque lute. This creates some problems - the theorbo lacks the top F string which is extensively used in lute music so only pieces that don’t rely too much on the F string will work. This also means that there are quicker position shifts as any notes on the F string have to be played on the next string down. Lute music is also written for an instrument with considerably shorter scale length (around 70cm) so left hand stretches can be a problem on an instrument of 80cm. Finally, the lute has octave bass strings which disguise the chromatic notes that have to be played an octave higher. This requires some adapting of the bassline at times.
Italian and French players did use the theorbo for solo music, so I wanted to create some German equivalents when switching instruments to the lute in performances was not feasible. This particular Allegro by Baron fitted well because it used the high F less often. I could also incorporate the two extra bass strings effectively, in particular the deep bass F which is below the range of the Italian theorbo. It also goes to almost the highest note of the instrument.
The German theorbo was the last type to emerge, it also survived later on than the other types. Several players were still using it well beyond the baroque period, such as Baron, Daube, Scheidler and Weiss’s son Johann Adolf Faustinus. The early romantic composer Weber even saw J. A. F. Weiss still performing on the theorbo in 1812 (only 2 years before his death) although at this point his activities were very limited.
Please subscribe to the channel to enable us to make more videos like this.
You can also find on the Quatrapuntal channel videos of Bach's BWV 998, very rarely heard on the D-minor tuned lute Bach knew because it is so challenging to play. This is the only performance video on the German baroque lute on RUclips of this incredible piece:
• Bach BWV 998 Allegro p...
There are also many other interesting videos featuring the mandora, another type of lute:
• Snowbound - a winter's...
And various others featuring the Portuguese guitar and mandolin.
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Every theorbist deserves a royal sinecure.
I had to look up sinecure, but after learning the meaning I would have to agree!
I love everything about this, the piece, the sound, the fantastic performance. It fills me with joy! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it - plenty more where that came from on this channel!
Jesus Christ loves you my friends
@@Quatrapuntal sounds like fun then! Jesus Christ the good miraculous God loves you
may you trust in Him daily 😊 and His ways
Yes ans it is addictive ,,, !! 🙂
I was about to comment the same! fantastic.
I'm a guitarist, and I'm definitely impressed. I had just wanted to show a friend the instrument, but I could not cut this short. Truly a masterful performance.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. I never really played the classical guitar much (went pretty much straight from electric guitar) but this is definitely a very different beast, especially in the RH. The tone production is quite different as well.
This deserves 100 million + views.
I would love that, but realistically it's not going to happen!
@@Quatrapuntal Btw have u noticed that many viral facebook channels have feautured ur video?
No, I only knew it was on Classic FM. What other channels is it on out of interest?
Soooo beautiful! I love the tempo of this interpretation. Each note seems individually caressed, producing a lavish sound, while the whole is linked together perfectly to bring out the complexity of the composition.
When I was very little I would ask my mother to put on my "Julian Bream Plays Bach" record so I could fall asleep listening to it. I have teeny short fingers and no aptitude for strings it turned out - had to become a woodwind player instead - but classical and baroque lute, guitar, etc. are my favourite sounds in the world. I had records from Narciso Yepes, many others - but Quatrapuntal and Chris Hirsch are absolutely my favourite players now!
Thank you for your kind words. I actually started off on woodwind as well (recorder and oboe) but ended up with the lute, still have a fondness for cor anglais in particular which you can hear on various Quatrapuntal songs. If you want some Bach to drift off to, try this one: ruclips.net/video/SlQ88UKWlWY/видео.html
It's awesome that you hear this music in its full grandeur. Too few people are able to hear each bird when when it Flys within the moving flock.
chris hirst theorbo art cool musico barroco
I just wrote theorbo allegro and I have found this wonderful interpretation, my congratulations to the artist, thank you. ❤
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. There are quite a few other videos on this channel with this theorbo and other types of lute as well.
Awesome choice of music to play on this amazing instrument and the performance was truly beyond outstanding with crafted phrasing and solid continuo.
Nothing has the beautiful sonority of the low bass notes on a theorbo. A recording does not do justice to the real thing.
Thanks for the kind words! An issue with the real thing is volume, especially played with other instruments it often struggles. So in some way a recording (if done well) lets you hear it at it's best, heard close by. Many recording engineers don't understand how to capture the delicate sound of the lute well, I have heard many recordings sounding weak and brittle with far too much reverb. I record it myself so can avoid that. I have recorded the rest of the suite this comes from now, which will come out at some point!
Beatiful playing, music and instrument. Being a fan of theorbo music, I've heard quite a lot of instruments. But the sound quality and the power of the bass string of this particular instrument is stunning.
Thank you. The reason this sounds different is because it's a German theorbo, almost all the other ones you hear are Italian. The tuning is different, it has a wider range and double strings on the fingerboard which give it a more lute like quality. If you are interested in lute music, check out the videos of Bach's BWV998 on this channel, which I think are the only videos on RUclips of this piece performed on the correct German lute that Bach knew. It is very rarely played because it is very difficult, it was a lockdown challenge for me last year to record it.
Beautiful ❤❤❤❤❤ woooow
Thanks glad you enjoyed it. My latest video is the lute in an entirely different direction ruclips.net/video/XsCe9Do_ac4/видео.html
Chis, exceptional playing, and a wonderful instrument, I subscribed because this is my 43rd play of this clip.. it's addictive, it resonates in my head.
thanks!
Best!
Thanks I appreciate that! I have recorded all of the rest of the parts of the larger piece this comes from, they will be on a CD at some point but still quite a few other things to record.
In all my fifty-eight years, this is my first encounter with Baron's music. It is spellbinding. Thank you so much for introducing me to it.
He only wrote for the lute or centring around it and not a huge output, so it's fairly obscure apart from the lute world. There are various pieces by Bach which are similar, some were intended for the lute-harpsichord rather than actual lute, but are just about playable like this: ruclips.net/video/WCwzWgjUHh8/видео.html
@@Quatrapuntal Fascinating! Thank you!
This is my favorite youtube video.
There are something like 800 million videos on RUclips so wow, thank you I'm honoured! Do you play the lute?
Remarkable!!
Thank you, I am planning to record the rest of this suite at some point.
Excellent performance, Chris! You make it look so easy, which it certainly is not.
Thank you, I have had plenty of time to practice lately. And a lot of practice with the metronome which helps I think, especially in fast movements like this.
Great playing! I love all the syncopation
Thanks, the rhythmic spreading of chords like that is quite common in baroque lute music because it makes full use of the resonance of the instrument.
What a master.
Thank you sir!
@@Quatrapuntal I shied away from the lute because our history teacher told us that the lute would take longer to tune than the pieces that were written for it. A lie that stopped me from perusing the lute. Your playing of the Baron's Allegro piece is flawless. I wish that in this one case I had ignored my teacher.
Yes that is nonsense. They are pretty stable once in tune, especially when the strings are worn in. If I haven't played it for ages and it's totally off (the pegs can slip after a while) it takes quite a time to tune, the 13-course lute with 24 strings is worst for this. But after it's in tune it's just tweaking. The strings are quicker to change than a guitar as you can wind them really quick without gears.
This Baron has tricky bits, but the Bach BWV998 I recorded last year is much harder, and really the most difficult piece for baroque lutes. I did it last year as a personal challenge, it's on the channel.
bravissimo signore well done
Grazie mille, sono felice che ti sia piaciuto. Sei italiano?
Dazzling!
Thanks, and for the sub I appreciate it
That's awesome!
Awesome my friend.
Thank you 👍
Absolutely a blast from a beautiful time...amazing instrument jus brilliant how it's stringed and the open stings for bass ....wow....I'm gonna watch this everyday for a few years
Thanks, they knew what they were doing back then! May look odd but there is a certain logic to it all. Plenty more where this came from on the channel as well, many thanks for the subscription I appreciate it.
I don't know an awful lot about music, but this is wonderful. Thank you.
Thanks for watching, and stay away from the lions!
This is such a joyful piece~! Thank you for sharing and mastering the music
Thank you, if you are interested to know more about the lute I also have an explanation video which demonstrates several instruments: ruclips.net/video/r4FaF7eH8Tg/видео.html
Amazing on so many fronts! As a trumpet player, the complexity of all those lines boggles my mind. As a piano tuner I have to say: your theorbo is magnificently tuned!
Thanks. Well I can't play the trumpet! I have played woodwind and strings before but never brass so that's all mysterious to me. Do you play baroque natural trumpet? That seems very hard as well. Tuning is tricky on fretted instruments as you can play the same note in multiple positions, especially in this d minor tuning. Equal temperament is not a complete solution either, that's why they have movable frets.
@@Quatrapuntal I have played a natural trumpet, but I don't own one, so it's a rare event. Yes, it's a different animal from a modern valve trumpet. Sort of a world of its own
Fantastic playing and instrument, great meet you last night in St. Helens!
Thanks, likewise and glad you enjoyed it!
Gosto assim, tocando os bordões. Vivas ao teorbista.
Sim senhor! Obrigado pela assinatura. Você toca alaúde?
@@Quatrapuntal não, mas estudei música e admiro os alaúdes, inclusive o Oud de Gamza el Din, do Nilo.
Já tentei tocar oud algumas vezes, é estranho não ter trastes! Mas é o avô do alaúde.
Incredible playing.. the Theorbo sounds wonderful and I cannot get over the size of it!
There are theorbos bigger than this one, some of the Italian ones from the early 17th century are real monsters. My long strings are 150cm, some go up to 180cm!
Excellent performance and a beautiful sounding instrument! Who needs a phalanx of speakers and 1000s of watts when there's 'green' edifying music such as this! Bravo Sir.
Thank you. I must admit that I always amplify Quatrapuntal when we play live, I like the sense of enveloping the audience in the sound and lutes are pretty quiet instruments that easily get lost in large spaces. But that is just boosting the natural acoustic sound and not what you meant I know. Plenty more where this came from on the channel!
Big boy!!!!
😉
Beautiful
Breathtakingly wonderful...
Thank you, I added a new video of this theorbo playing with another very rare instrument, the baryton as well.
This is so precious... what a wonderful world we live in that has this kind of music. Thanks for making my day.
Thank you for the compliment! If you enjoyed this, you can find lots more music which is similar and different on the channel.
Fall in love with this instrument in 10 seconds.
Yes true (until you have to tune it or carry it around, that is!)
Amazing it's wonderfull my father who passed away in 2008 loved this music. You have a talent
Thanks, music certainly has a power to evoke memories
Beautiful. The gigue in counterpoint in this allegro is expressed wonderfully in your playing.
Thank you, I intend to record the rest of the suite this comes from soon.
Bach level composition, virtuoso musician, exceptional instrument.
Nice comment! Thank you
MAGNIFICENT !
Congratulations from France.
Merci beaucoup! Glad you enjoyed it.
Wonderful music in a vivid and stylish performance. Bravo!
Thanks, I appreciate that.
chris hirst musico art theorbo cool
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Seen this on facebook. Been searching the title of this piece. I love this soo much.💘💚
Thanks, there are lots of other videos of various instruments on the channel and another with this theorbo as well.
Thank you very much for your work in recording and posting this. This morning I sent it to a relative who is holding vigil in a hospital. I hope it can bring her some joy and peace as it has for me.
I hope so as well. I had a listen to some of the compositions on your channel, some really nice work on there. I especially liked the 'Glasco' one, had a film music feel to it. Composing is the main point of this channel actually, the 'covers' of baroque music were to grow the channel. See what you think of this, to a John Greenleaf Whittier poem. It has a number of influences, including early 20th century music: ruclips.net/video/moHvD38PFeY/видео.html
@@Quatrapuntal I just listened to "Snowbound". Wonderful, sophisticated work! The intro sounded modal--phrygian or something, but I then I thought I heard a major seventh, so I don't think it was one of the diatonic modes. Are you playing within one scale there?
I liked how the english horn echoes the soprano at 1:26 and 3:57, and I really liked the surprising (to me) cadences at 2:03 and 2:37. Also, it seemed that the english horn was able to play the eighth-note line from 3:25-3:55 in one breath! Did you have to do multiple tracks for that, or can an english horn player play that long without taking a breath? I'll have to listen to this composition several more times to try to understand more.
Thank you, that is the one of all the Quatrapuntal songs that I am most proud of. I don't know that the intro is a particular scale I certainly didn't work one out, the mandora ostinato is E, C, Ab, B, C which I don't know how you would describe that. I was listening to early Alban Berg at the time so although not atonal, that was the inspiration rather than modes. One of the things I like to do is play with expectations - set up a cadence so you ears are expecting chord I, then do something different. The idea was to introduce quite a few melodic ideas that almost overloads in the first section, then slowly develop and pass them around in the rest of it. I think the cor anglais sneaks a quick breath somewhere in there, but I was surprised when he recorded at how long they can play in one breath - way longer than a flute. It was originally written for accordion so there were some bits where breathing is tricky on the cor anglais.
more please
Hi Pierre I am working on some new videos but they take ages to produce! There are lots more lute and other videos on the channel, there is another one with this theorbo (Mozart) plus a couple of Bach videos on the 24-string baroque lute that are a similar style to this.
WoW....not only the sound of this instrument is amazing but the melody is even better ! Salutations de la Ville de Québec, Canada ! ❤🎶
Glad you liked it, there are plenty of other kinds of lutes and other weird and wonderful instruments on the channel as well.
Intricate music played flawlessly on this incredible instrument. Bravo!
Thank you so much. There are plenty of other lute and other videos on the channel if you enjoyed this one.
I played a tune or song every day during the first lockdown to keep the morale up.
@@yobrojoost9497 yes it all helps. I couldn't manage one a day but tried to get a new video out each week for a little while, better to keep yourself busy than sitting around moping!
Breathtaking... simply stunning performance... look forward to more....
Very kind thank you. I have a new video coming with this theorbo playing a duet with another very rare instrument very soon
i love edging to this
thank you
GREAT...!
Thanks.
Such joy to hear!❤🧡💛💚💙
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Try the Bach videos on my channel if you liked this, it is from the same era.
Wonderful.
Thanks. Is that a ragdoll kitten on your picture?
@@Quatrapuntal No, just a non-brand cat of mine.
Really looks like a lilac point ragdoll. I have a rescue ragdoll, there are some photos of him on the Facebook page facebook.com/quatrapuntal
@@Quatrapuntal I'm gonna see it. Thanks.
MAgnifique. Le joueur et l'incroyable instrument!
Merci beaucoup
Thank you.
How marvellous Chris, thank you.
Thanks for watching.
It must be the thousandth time I have watched this video. Can't get enough of the sound of this frankly sexy instrument and the music so beautifully sculptured by those capable hands. Unsurpassed talent Chris xxx
Thanks Vicky, I will endeavour to make some more, I am working on it!
@@Quatrapuntal ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Wow what sound! Great performance too. I wouldn't want to tune it.
Thank you, there is an explanation video that talks about tuning it and other common questions: ruclips.net/video/oBEoVbY2xrk/видео.html
PURE ART
Thank you, plenty more like this on the channel!
so beautiful
bravo !!
Thank you, there are plenty more lute videos on this channel if you enjoyed this one.
My heart thanks you.
SO beautiful.
I have watched this video on Facebook.
I have listened to it many times since then.
It ssems that the melody and the beautiful sound never leave me.
Thank you for such wonderful music.
Thanks for your kind words! I intend to record the rest of the movements that go before and after this piece and release them with various other things on a CD at some point.
Wow! I can't wait!
Realmente um som divino,uma estrada de algodão à ser caminhada por nossos ouvidos!!!
Muito obrigado, adorei a sua descrição! Há muito mais como esse vídeo neste canal.
In classical guitar circles S.L. Weiss is well known; E.G. Baron? -not so much; at least IME (unfortunately) ☹. Some of his pieces -even entire suites, work rather nicely on 6 string guitar which is how I fell in love with his music. But Master Baron's music is best appreciated on baroque lute IMO. And to hear this Allegro played on theorbo really tickles my funny bone lol! Wonderful performance too! Thank you for posting this -you made my day!
Thank you, I try to find lesser known repertoire although of course I have played a lot of Weiss before. The 13 course lute is such a different beast to the 6 string guitar, good music can work on any instrument but the effect is pretty vastly different from what it was conceived on. A lot of the cross string 'campanella' effects are lost and of course the octave bassline on open strings is nothing like fretted notes at the higher octave. Bach is a bit different as most of it was likely not written for the actual lute anyway (I have a couple of videos of BWV998, his best work for the instrument imo).
This theorbo of course is a German type, which has the same basic tuning as the 13 course lute so transfers well if you can accommodate the top string notes onto the 2nd string in higher positions. I am going to record the rest of this suite at some point as people keep asking for it, I have started work!
Thank you for sharing this music, this instrument, and your practice & skill. I think the theorbo is my favorite instrument.
Glad you enjoyed it. I also did a video answering the top 10 questions I get asked all the time about the theorbo: ruclips.net/video/oBEoVbY2xrk/видео.html
I compliment you on the gorgeous tone that you elicit from the instrument throughout its range, and your exceptionally clean playing.
Thank you, I appreciate that.
So beautiful. So So So beautiful. I came here to your channel after Classic FM posted this video on Facebook. Thank you so much. Its make me happy and gives me peace.
Thank you for the kind comments, glad you enjoyed it. There are lots of other videos on the channel with lutes and other instruments and different styles. What type of music do you like the most?
Excellent performance! It reminds me of John Williams' playing.
Thanks. I never really played classical guitar much, but I know that JW is a great player.
Brilliant!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Beautiful instrument and beautiful playing. 💜
Thank you for watching.
Charming music, sound and performance!
Thank you, plenty more like this on my channel!
That's excellent Chris, beautifully played.
Thanks Robin, I have another video with this theorbo coming soon, a duet with another very rare 18th century instrument the baryton.
Fantasztikus hangja van ennek a hangszernek! Mesteri a játék. Köszönöm a feltöltést!
Köszönöm
Watched this many times its awesome
Thanks, I have recently recorded the other parts that go before and after this piece. Took me a while as some of it is very difficult!
Very nice 👏👏
Thank you, see if you like this as well which I just released yesterday: ruclips.net/video/hkVrG7qIZkQ/видео.html
Excellent!!!!!! 👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
Absolutely Marvellous !. Wonderful Playing and sounds here. Masterly x.
Thank you for your kind words. Here is a recent video using the same instrument see what you think: ruclips.net/video/3jFNOTYQJ-8/видео.html
Volando in alto
¡Una auténtica maravilla!
Es una interpretación tan viva y una sonoridad tan rotunda que escucharlo llena de alegría y optimismo 👏👏👏
Gracias señor, muy amables palabras! No hablo español pero hablo portugués, así que puedo entender
Very cool! I love the sound of this instrument.
Thanks, it sounds even richer hearing it live. There is also a video of this playing with another rare instrument, the baryton.
Sublime!
(Also: Subscribed!)
Thanks for the subscription, I appreciate it!
Очень красиво. Das ist sehr schön. Thank
Vielen Dank!
Thanks for the link; came here to read about this beautiful instrument. Love the sound it makes!
Thanks, there is another video with this theorbo on the channel playing with another very rare instrument, the baryton.
Absolutely brilliant playing! 🙂
Thanks, I am planning to record the rest of the suite that this comes from which should be out later this year.
Absolutely wonderful!
Thank you, I am planning to record the other parts of this Baron at some point for a forthcoming album.
it is addictive ,,,,, and it's a good thing ! 🙂
New theorbo video coming soon (for your addiction 😉)
Such a joyful journey of playing. Celestial. Want to hear more from you. Thank you for sharing your playing with us. শুভমস্তু 🙏🙏🙏
ধন্যবাদ glad you liked it. If you want to hear more, there are many more videos on this channel with various types of lute, mandolin, Portuguese guitar and songs with several instruments. What kind of music do you like most?
@@Quatrapuntal I love to listen to more classical Melodies like this which you have played. It's like a butterfly running around.
Awesome
Thanks. Do you play baroque guitar?
Gorgeous!! 😍😍😍😍
Wonderful!
✨️🏵🎶♥️🎶🏵✨️
Beautiful playing! Thanks
Bravo!!! 😍👏🔝🔝
Thanks, nice to be appreciated by a fellow player! I very rarely play the theorbo actually as I don't do much continuo any more, but I am planning to record some more of the suite this comes from. Your channel is great as well by the way! Have you ever tried a double strung theorbo?
@@Quatrapuntal wow, great! I would love to listen your upcoming pieces! So, go ahead, please! Thank you!
Beautifully played.
Many thanks
Zajebiste czyli perfect in En. ❤
Dziękuję!
Divine! I want more :)
Thanks! Plenty more videos on this channel with various kinds of lutes and other things, I am working on a few new ones at the moment as well.
Amazing ,beautifull playing. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching, plenty more lute and other videos on this channel!
Maravilhoso !!! Bravooo !!!
Obrigado senhor! Você é brasileiro?
Hello Chirs! I met you through this wonderful video! You are excellent at what you do! From your south american fan! 👏👏👏
Hi Irene, thanks for saying hello and the compliment! Where are you from in South America? I did a tour in Brazil over 20 years ago and really enjoyed it.
@@Quatrapuntal I'm from Brazil, São Paulo. I hope you come back soon again! 🎵🎵🎵 For now I follow you and your cat on facebook! See you there! 🙂😊
@@irene_afs eu fiquei alguns dias em São Paulo, perto da Avenida Paulista. Tenho uma amiga no Rio e tocamos lá também. Tive contato com brasileiros há muitos anos, espero poder voltar um dia.
Wahnsinnig gut! Danke!
Vielen Dank, Deutschland hat ein großes musikalisches Erbe!