Playford: Cittern Medley 1666 - Dante Ferrara

[AndoniCelta]

I love renacentist music! watch is the tunning of the cittern? Thanks!

[DanteFerrara]

@AndoniCelta Hello, I'm playing a renaissance style cittern - a copy of an original c.1600 and using its original tuning, e' d' G b

[archtopone]

~"I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis"...

[DanteFerrara]

Thank you. Good citterns (such as this one by Peter Forrester) cost about £2200. As with everything, you can get cheaper but you compromise on quality. Incidentally I'm in Dublin next month with my hurdy gurdy. DF

[MrStereolad]

Beautiful sound!!! Are these instruments very expensive? I'd like to take up some different instruments, gets a bit boring playing guitar,mandolins and banjos :) PS - You are a magnificant musician!

[HolyMotherofGrid]

Yeah!!!! This is truly wonderful stuff - great sound, intricate rhythms, and a delightful early Renaissance sound overall. Bravo - this is excellent. Thanks!

[DanteFerrara]

@HolyMotherofGrid Glad you like it, thank you. DF

[SpaceHeadMonkey]

That was lovely. What a beautiful sound you've got from it. I play a round back mandolin, which i love, but it's a very different sound. Keep on playing and posting on YouTube.

[DanteFerrara]

@SpaceHeadMonkey Thank you, DF

[LutenistDeMari]

I did get your reply yes thank you

[LutenistDeMari]

beautiful playing and instrument!

I'm a lute-player myself, you can see some videos here on youtube of my playing... I'm wondering: where would you recommend starting research into the cittern for a basic overview?

[DanteFerrara]

@LutenistDeMari

Did you get my reply sent about 8 hours ago? It doesn't appear in any YouTube archive. Please let me know. DF

[warrkrymez]

Sounds too modern.

[errentos]

I want to hire you for my wedding in like five or six years time

[TearInTheirHands]

I love this kind of music.

[potentialavalanche]

such a baller

[NerdFury]

what a wonderful instrument

[DanteFerrara]

Thank you. DF

[RatherCrunchyMuffin]

What distinguishes a cittern of that size from a mandolin? And how are the larger varieties different from bouzoukis or mandolas?

[DanteFerrara]

I'm playing a renaissance style cittern - a copy of an original c.1600 and using its original tuning, e d G b. A lot of music exists for this and the French tuning e d G a. The mandolin is tuned as a violin e a d G (in fifths) and its playing technique and repertoire are completely different.

I suspect you're confusing my instrument with the folk cittern - a modern hybrid for those who can't handle round-backed bouzoukis and mandolins. DF

[JohnSelma]

There is great controversy and confusion in the terminology surrounding the mandolin family instruments. The adoption of the terms "bouzouki" and "cittern" just made it worse, not to mention further confusion arising from transatlantic differences in names. I refer to my instrument as a "Ten string mandola" (see the cittern page of Wikipedia) but say that it is sometimes also called a cittern.

[mesquitadrox]

Sweet.

[Sectorsophia]

Beautiful playing. And you look like Albert Einstein! :)

[toddmakesnoise]

beautiful piece, great playing, and awesome clothes :)

[PeppeFrana]

I'm definitely a fan. 5 stars for you dear Dante!

[oeppevnvpeb]

wow, i love your playing, and i love the sound of a cittern (an instrument the existence of which i was unaware of until very recently. it sounds a little like a guitar, a lute, a mandolin, even a banjo!) it's simply beautiful.

[bloodrage008]

it's like a knight coming back to his humble abode XDD

[ceteracorsa]

Hi Dante!! Your cittern has a splendid sound and you play it so well! I love this meddley it swings!

You play with the ancient technic of quill plectrucm, I think it is extremely difficult!

Did you recieve my comment on the citternning site?

All the best!

[moiliryc]

can anybody tell me how is his cittern tuned, to know if I can tune mine alike?

[priorcs]

There are various tunings possible. The most usual is (Low to High)CGDAE

[DanteFerrara]

Hi, from 1st course to 4th course the tuning is e'e' d'd' Ggg bb. This tuning is for English and Italian renaissance cittern. For French, German and Flemish repertoire change the b to a. Do not confuse this with the modern folk cittern, as shown by priorcs below. DF

[fingal42]

Hello - I used to live around the corner from you, many years ago. Occasionally my mother would mention that she could hear you practicing. Ironically, I'm very interested in instruments in the lute family. You play very well. ;)

[DanteFerrara]

How extraordinary! When and where was this? Thank you for the compliment. DF

[fingal42]

If I'm right that would be in Woodhall Spa sometime in the late 80s (or was it the early 90s?). I went to college with Miranda for a while, and I knew her sister. I play guitar, so anything with strings is interesting to me. :)

[adz900]

haha my second name is Playford .. dont know anything about John Playford and his music .. someone message me with some background info on him please

[DanteFerrara]

Hello - John Playford was a shrewd music publisher. In 1651 he published 'The Dancing Master' at a time when all forms of public merriment was banned by the Puritans. The book was so popular that he (and his son Henry) went on to publish a further 16 editions. These tunes come from his 1666 book of music specifically for the cittern. DF

[adz900]

Oh nice one .. thanks for the info. Shame i havent got any musical abbilities what so ever lol .. But this is the only famous Playford i know of, Because its a very uncommon name i think.

[DanBeimborn]

Very nice Dante, lovely tone from your instrumet and very well played

[BlindTriker]

Absolutely fantastic! You captured the feel of that era, and take the listener there. Truly wonderful playing and interpretation. Thanks so much.

[jessyquedens]

I'll second that!

[bertietrousermouse]

This is fantastic music. I love it

[7is89]

Oh yea  :D

[bombina]

Lovely! I love Playford tunes, I've started playing some on the mandolin

[7is89]

Um I actually dont know ^_^"

But if a cittern is same as a gutiar then do you know how to play a guitar then?

[DanteFerrara]

The renaissance cittern is nothing like a guitar. It has four courses and tunings completely unrelated to the guitar. I don't play the guitar but I do play the lute, its closest relative. DF

[7is89]

really ??:D

Did u win any contest or anything??

[DanteFerrara]

I've never entered a cittern playing contest. Is there such a thing? DF

[7is89]

So cool XD

When did u start playing the cittern?

[DanteFerrara]

Hello, Pleased that you like my music. I started playing the renaissance cittern in 1980. Have you listened to my other cittern pieces on YouTube? There's also a lot more on my latest CD 'Bazimakoo'. Best wishes, Dante.

[OrchestradiMandolini]

Nice!

[diatonicfiddler]

very cool! what kind of plectrum are you using?

[DanteFerrara]

Hello, Pleased you're enjoying my music. I use an eagle quill plectrum whenever I can, but it's starting to wear away. It was made for me by a Moroccan oud player. I've tried both the traditional goose quill and cherry bark plectra but they can't be relied upon in a concert. They tend to split with little notice which is not good when you're halfway through a piece. Have you listened to my other cittern pieces on YouTube? There's also a lot more on my latest CD 'Bazimakoo'. Dante

[markferrari308]

Hi Dante really liked this one. hope to hear you play it @ our wedding on DEC 7th @ Hever Castle

[Nick2920]

I'm a history co-ordinator in a Grimsby primary school. I booked Dante for 2 sessions to play his music and tell his tales to 5 Y3/4 classes. The children loved it. Highly recommende4d to bring your Tudor topic alive. Thanks Dante. Nick.

[Luthval]

Nice job !!! thanks

V. ;-)