The Schoole of Musicke.
Tim. Sir, it is verie true, that manie, both
men and women, that in their youth could haue played (for that kinde of play) passing
well, in their age, or when they once haue beene married, haue forgotten all, as if
they had neuer knowne what a Lute had ment: and the reason I finde to proceed (in the
beginning of their learning) from the ignorance of their teachers, for in older times
they strove (onlie) to haue a quick hand vpon the Lute, to runne hurrie hurrie,
keeping a Catt in the gutter vpon the ground, now true then false, now vp now downe,
with such painfull play, mocking, mowing, gripeing, grinning, sighing, supping,
heauing, shouldring, labouring, and sweating, like cart Iades, without any skill in
the world, or rule, or reason to play a lesson, or finger the Lute, or guide the
bodie, or know any thing, that belongeth, either to skill or reason.
Kni. Now truely Timotheus, I am
perswaded you haue hit the marke, and when it went so hard with them in such easie,
and simple stuff, as then they vsed, what shift would they make to play at the first
sight (in these daies) an indifferent lesson set, if they were now liuing, but I pray
you can you play any lesson at the first sight, and also teach others to doe the same.
Tim. Yea Sir, that I can, or else I were not
worthy to be a teacher, for it hath ben the most part of my studie to bring the Lute,
Citharen, (and other instruments of Musick) into a method by generall rules, most
perfect and easie, so that with my instructions, one (that cannot vse the Lute, or
other instrument) may verie readilie attaine to a good habit thereof.
Kni. Well Timotheus, the verie truth is,
I haue hard so much as you say, & therfore in the name of God, begin with my
children when you please, and God willing) you shall bee pleased for your paines, but
I will make this condition with you (good Timotheus) that you shall giue me
leaue to aske you some questions, by the way, in your instructions, for it doth me
good to heare your reason, how say you Timotheus, are you content it shall be
so?
Tim. With all my hard Sir, for by so doing, I
shall daylie injoy your good companie, and with all, it will greatlie further the
profit of your children, and with the more ease, and comfort passe ouer the tediousnes
of teaching.
Kni. I thanke you Timotheus, but what
if you did first write downe all such rules (as you vse for instruction) that they may
from the beginning, (hauing them by hart) do nothing but that they may haue it in
memorie and grounded by reason.
Tim. You say well it shall bee so, and at your
pleasure aske what questions you please, and I will shew you the reason for it to the
full, and I hope such as shall satisfue you fullie, wherefore in the name of God I
thus begin. First it behoueth a scholer to haue a verie good instrument verie well
strung, haire to the eie, and easie to reach any stop whatsoeuer, and verie well
sounding.
Kni. Why, mee thinks it were no great matter
what instrument a beginner hath, considering that for the most part, young beginners,
soone make old instruments, as young scholers soone make old bookes.
Tim. Indeede to haue a good instrument lieth
as much in the habilitie of the parents or friends, as also in their good wils to haue
it so; but why I think it good to haue (if it were possible) euen the verie best
instrument for a learner at the first, is this : a good instrument will please a
learner euery way, for it delighteth them to looke and behold it now & then,
likewise they loue easie and smooth instruments, and although they can do but little,
yet it will sound well, and so incourage them to learne with delight, whereas
contrariwise, a bad or dull instrument will quell their spirits quite, so that in a
long time, or neuer, will they profit in their forced labours.
Kni. I promise you, it now seemeth to mee
verie good reason that it should bee so, and againe it is an old and true saying,
that one good thing is euer worth ten bad, also there is small losse in a good thing,
it euer yeldeth monie with profit: well here is a Lute according to your desire in all
points, I pray you goe forward good Timotheus.
Tim. Now you haue a good Lute, it behoueth you
to loue it and vse it well, for by the vsage you shall shew your loue, therfore marke
how you ought to vse your Lute, aboue all things, keepe it from wet, for wet will
spoile the strings and make loose the ribs, and when you haue done playin vpon it, put
it vp into the case, putting the Trebles a little down, but first you shall
learne to handle your Lute with a comelie grace, readie to play with delight, and to
this purpose in the name of God, doe as I shall instruct you.
G E N E R A L L R V L E S.
Irst sitting vpright with your bodie, leane the edge of the Lute against the table,
and your bodie against the Lute, not too hard for hurting your Lute, neither to
softlie for letting of it fall, for the table, your bodie, and your right arme, must
so poyes the Lute, that you may haue your left hand at libertie to carie to, and fro,
at your pleasure, letting the middle part of the neck of the Lute, slide vp and downe
the brawne of the thumb which is against the nayle of the said thumb, houlding out the
wrest of the hand, and alwaies carrying your thumb against your forefinger in any stop
whatsoeuer, for so shall your hand be the more comelie, the more readie, and with the
more ease, stop any stop the cleaner, now for your right hand, called the striking
hand leane vpon the bellie of the Lute with your little finger onelie, & that,
neither to far from the Treble strings, neither to neere, and although you
ought to leane lightlie, yet carie your hand steddilie, not sliding out of his place,
also remembring, to leane lightlie vpon your arme vpon your Lute, for otherwise
This HTML version of The Schoole of Musicke was created
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Jeff Lee
<godfrey@shipbrook.net>.