Videos by owners

Here are some fine examples of pieces played by some owners on their custom made instruments.

Medieval

Douce dame jolie by Guillaume de Marchaut played on a 5crs Medieval lute in g' in Pythagorean intonation, based on Arnaut of Zwolle barring with proportions based on research by Mark Lindley with other fine details based on church architecture/ iconography from the period. More information on the instrument is here.

Renaissance

Suzanne un Jour played by the very talented Richard MacKenzie on the Student lute based on Frei (2004)

More information can be seen on the student lutes at the bottom of the link here.

Another fine example of Italian Renaissance lute music on the 7crs lute from his album, many more can be seen via his channel on you tube here.

The Frog Galliard played on another 7crs Student Frei by the very glamorous Latvian Leva Baltmiskyte.

The well respected lute expert Rod Blocksidge plays an Allemanda by Zamboni on the 10crs lute based on Burkholtzer. More information on this instrument can be seen here.

Baroque

A Corrente by Kapsberger played on the student Sellas Theorbo (E547). Richard wanted a more comfortable instrument than the large chitarroni so this shorter theorbo by Sellas (85.7cm) seemed to fit see more information on the instrument here.

Reusner Suite in Bb Major on the 11crs Student baroque lute based on Frei played by Richard MacKenzie.

more information motion can be seen at the bottom of the baroque lute page here.

Mihaly Benko plays Vieux Gallot's Les Plaines de Psychee on the 11crs Student baroque lute based on Frei with all gut strings, because the instrument is affordable it allows for the extra cost of gut strings.

Another 11crs Hans Frei lute (C34)as seen above played by Alex McCartney from his album Mesangeau's Experiments

Some very atmospheric Reusner played on 11crs lute music played on a Hans Frei 11crs by Rod Blocksidge, originally double strung as seen above but was converted to higher tension single strung and is now a 12crs lute as heard below.

Below is another Frei C34 baroque lute but in 13crs form with bass rider played by Petter Dyndahl

Now for something complete different...below is an electric version the Widhalm Swan neck baroque lute played by Dr Dale Harris, the instrument was made to allow for extra space for playing with fingernails which he still needed to play guitar also the tunings his own and he has managed to do some exiting new things with it. More can be seen on this instrument here

Another creative adaption to the baroque lute yet closer to the traditional instrument is the triple swan neck Swedish Theorbo played by Richard MacKenzie below

Below is an instrument commissioned after hearing the instrument above. The version below is a Hans Frei C34 body too but with the barring of the Swedish Theorbo by Elg, can be strung in double or higher tension single strings as with the instrument above.

Mandora and Guitar

The Student Quito Vihuela was another collaboration, it's a scalled down version of the original to make it a bit easier to play.

Daniel Murphy plays a 5crs Baroque guitar based on Sellas (pre-owned resale via EMS Shop)

Rejuvenated old instrument made over 25 yrs ago.

Yesterday by the Beatles played on a 19th century mandora, the body is based on Hans Frei C34 but has metal frets and a pick up installed. This instrument was specifically commissioned by Chris Hirst to play the last music of the lute and modern music as above.

Below is a 5crs electric version of Rod's Mandora, it was made for Felix Nordahl Bjork in Norway to play electric modern mandora music in a band seen here

Rod Blocksidge was one of the first to order a mandora but in it's more traditional form, no pickup, but a longer string length of 72cm, above he's playing form a manuscript with mandora music from 1869! He also owns a Lacote guitar c1825 I made a few years ago heard below, more information can be seen here