Monthly archives: November 2024

I decided to start on the Capirola Lutebook (1517). It’s beautifully illustrated … deliberately added to ensure that the book would be preserved (sample page shown below). The music was actually written down by Vincenzo’s pupil Vitale. The lutebook has a substantial text on lute playing technique, ornaments and notation—one of the most important sources on performance practice of the time (which I have not translated, nor have I found a translation yet).

This photo shows my progress so far … yellow highlighted pieces are done but awaiting proofreading, green is in progress and blue has not been started yet. It may take a while …

CORRECTION: The original post had the composer’s name incorrect as Capriola.  It’s Capirola.

So what do I arrange next?  I have a large backlog of music from which to choose:

• Estevan Daza (El Parnasso, 1576)
• Enríquez de Valderrábano (Silva de sirenas, 1547)
• Francesco Spinacino (Intabulatura de lauto, 1507, Libro 1 & 2)
• Joan Ambrosio Dalza (Intabulatura de lauto, 1508, Libro 4)
• Vincenzo Capirola (Lutebook, 1517)
• and much more!

Also, I’m thinking of arranging some Dutch folk songs but only those that were and are still sung during family get togethers (remember, although I’m Canadian, my family emigrated from Amsterdam in the Netherlands). 

Any suggestions?

As we come out of the summer season, I’m looking at what has been accomplished so far in the ongoing project to arrange Medieval, Renaissance and early Baroque music for ukulele. Here’s a picture of the complete library of 68 books with almost 1000 arrangements. Search for “Ancient Music for Ukulele”, visit any book store online, or contact me for details.