The Archlute and Theorbo (Chitarrone)

Cameron Welke (narrator, performer)
For: Agecroft Hall & Gardens, instruments in Agecroft's collection

Agecroft images by Laura Purvis


in partnership with

[BananaZen]

No music relaxes me as much as lute, archlute, and theorbo melodies... 🕊

[danbluedeer]

Cameron- excellent video and marvelous playing! best wishes

[StephenBryen]

Well explained and demonstrated --helpful and appreciated

[paulshipper]

Very nice explanation and lovely playing, and I realize it's just a basic primer for people who know little about lutes, but... it's the pegbox, not the neck that's bent back(I'm sure you know this, but just misspoke). Additionally, archlutes and theorbos were developed much earlier than you stated. Supersizing lutes began in the 1580s, and the theorbo was pretty realized by around 1600, not the 1700s. If you ever redo or edit this, there's also the liuto attiorbatto, which in some ways is the forerunner of swan necked and baroque lutes. It had a short extension and was generally double courses, unlike the single course theorbo. The best extant one is by Sellas, 1636 or so, which is double courses, no reentrant tuning and 58cm with an extended neck of only 85, and quite beautiful.

[TheodoreBrown]

Very nice polished-looking video, easily on par with OaE instrument demos. Lovely sounding playing too; this sort of video is hard to come by, and I’m glad you guys put the effort in to create it

[Honyakker]

Thank you for this excellent and short explanation of the differences between the instruments. You might add to your list the "archguitar, " which is actually modern instrument that sort of fuses the guitar and the lute. Have you heard of Peter Blanchette in Western Massachusetts?

[analogalien]

Great video and very informative. Can you tell me the model of the theorbo you are playing and where I can purchase one? Thank you.

[micahharris]

What are the names of the strings on the archlute and chitarrone

[ammartaibi]

I'd like to learn to play the archlute. I've found one that's not very expensive and it's 19 strings, 6 courses and 8 bass. looking through youtube I could only find people playing different string configuration archlutes. Is there a standard? I can't find much information online

[chocolatefactorylay]

I was wondering, is the archlute comparatively softer than the theorbo?

[Existmusiccloud]

I always wanted to play Weiss on theorbo

[catasstrophy]

somebody get this man a decongestion spray

[adolforosado]

My life goal is to see that the original Pythagorean tuning based on the inner angles of regular geometrical shapes gets re-adopted. The middle A being tuned to or very close to 432 Hertz. I really don't care about discussing when or why the 440 standard was adopted, I just know in my heart of hearts it's wrong. Most people get how it would re-harmonize the world, however, I've found, musicians the ones that want to cling to the 440 standard. All you really have to do is try it, play for yourself and share it for consideration. 8 Hertz dissonance with nature is too much. Otherwise, you play divine!

[mahakala]

how dare you not to mention jullian bream :)