Lute-making
Summer Workshops
The 11th International course in lute making will take place in David Van Edwards’ workshop in Norwich, England,
7th August - 15th August 2010.
There has been a sudden cancellation so, if you would like to come at this short notice, please me.
The Workshop
The view of Norwich from the back garden!
The central idea of these workshop courses has been to work together as a group to produce a lute for the English Lute Society to use as a hire instrument. Each year a different original instrument is chosen to make. No previous experience is necessary and each course member will be able to try out, and contribute to, each of the processes involved in making the lute.
Previous workshops, where we have made twelve different instruments for the Lute Society, were great fun, with a nice lute resulting from each week’s work. So I know it can be done! If you’d like to get a flavour of what previous years’ courses were like, click on these links:
1999, where we made a 6 course renaissance lute
2000, where we made a 13 course German baroque lute.
2001, where we made a 14 course theorbo
2002, where we made a 6 course bass lute
2003, where we made an 11 course baroque lute
2005, where we made a 7 course tenor lute.
2006, where we made a 14 course liuto attiorbato
2007, where we made a 6 course mandora
2008, where we made a medieval lute and gittern
2009, where we made two lutes for the Norfolk schools project
In 2010 The course will consist of a joint endeavour to make a double-headed 12 course lute.
This will be given to the Lute Society for use as part of its hire fleet. These are hired out to people who want to try out a lute or a different type of lute and cannot afford to by one in advance of knowing whether they will get on with it.
I will have pre-prepared some of the boring parts, such as planing the ribs to thickness, but essentially we will be making the complete lute in the week and everyone will have a chance to take part in all the processes involved.
The workshops are obviously quite intensive; though there is time to explore the historic city and for group music-making in the evenings. All tools and materials are provided. Morning and afternoon coffee, a light lunch and a very good evening meal with wine are included in the cost. As with last year I will also provide a printed woodworking apron as a useful memento of the course.
The cost for this year will be £350 per person, excluding accomodation.
If you are interested in taking part, or would like further details, please do email me,
Copyright 2010 by David Van Edwards
Accomodation is in nearby bed and breakfast establishments, a list of which will be sent to those who express an interest. You should therefore make your own arrangements to stay with one of these.
I have arranged a public concert by Willem Mook, the well-known Dutch lutenist, on Thursday 12th August in the King of Hearts, one of the finest medieval/Tudor buildings in Norwich. Willem Mook will be playing a concert showing the French influence on English and Dutch musical life in the mid 17th century, featuring especially music taken from the Herbert of Cherbury manuscript in the FitzWilliam Museum, Cambridge and including music by Jacques Gautier and Vallet. This is just the kind of music suitable for the 12 course lute we are building, in fact Jacques Gaultier is thought to have invented the double-headed 12 course lute.