Cantiga 1

[Evilrose0611]

how did you get your gittern?

[warspitewiseman]

I have gone for a long scale with 4 double courses, tunded in fifths GDAE. I am a mandoline player, and like the fexibility of fifths tunings, especially as I am playing with a band. And funnily enough, he is adding a strap button. I seem to be on the right hymn sheet :o)

[warspitewiseman]

What an amazing reverberation from an accoustic instrument. Sounds like you are in an echo chamber. May I ask if you are using nylon or gut strings? I am considering a Stevens gittern, and would be interested to know the difference. Thanks.

[SongsFromTheOth]

@warspitewiseman that would be because reverb was added during recording

This instrument is strung with nylgut

[warspitewiseman]

Ah. How naive of me :o) Anyway, I have gone ahead and ordered one anyway, and George Stevens strings them with Nylgut by default is seems. Thanks for your helpful response. Ray

[SongsFromTheOth]

@warspitewiseman Hi Ray - good choice! did you go for a long scale with 5 courses?

its also worth going for 9 frets and a strap button.....

[ooberpwnage]

Are you a lefty or is that a trick of the camera?

[SongsFromTheOth]

yup I am left handed...

[Chunbot882]

Musica medival española. Sencillamente sensacional.

[SacredHoopMagazine]

Truly Beautifully played a pleasure to watch you.

i play a guitarra latina and am thinking of making or buying a gittern but I want an earlier one than the C15th your playing, and I'm thinking probably single strung 4 courses.

What are the strings like - similar to lute? or heavier?

really lovely to see you play :)

[cyberman117]

Thats interesting. I did read that while researching. Can I have the URL for the site?

[cyberman117]

can this be played on the mandolin?

[SongsFromTheOth]

Hi There - Thanks for the kind comment!

I would guess it should be possible to replicate this arrangement with standard mandolin tuning but mandolin is a picked as opposed to plucked instrument. As with much of the music of this period it is plainsong with no chord/key changes - in this particular example a drone by alternating on the open G and D strings of the Gittern.

[cyberman117]

Thanks for the help! I simply LOVE the way this instrument sounds. Is he playing the higher notes or just the two G and D strings in the background?

[SongsFromTheOth]

I am playing this as a single performance - no overdubs - unfortunately I recorded it using a cheap webcam into a low spec laptop so the sound isn't syncing very well. If your interested in the instrument I'm playing checkout the website of the Luthier who made it for me - there is also an interesting paper kicking around the web about how the Gittern became the Mandor and ultimately the Mandolin

[cyberman117]

Thanks! I'll be sure to subscribe!

With Humor,

Doctor Redd

[cyberman117]

I just recently became interested in the mandolin, and while reading about it I came across this video; let me say this is simply amazing. Great job! :)

[Gimmer3]

This is just fantastic it gives me chills I find it so moving.

[UnderSkies]

Mesmerizing

[Alubre]

Alfonso X El Sabio estaria orgulloso de escucharte

[Selenedragon]

Simply gorgeous tune played on one of my favorite instruments! Which I must say, is itself, quite beautiful. May I ask where you acquired it? And... how much my pockets might need to be emptied to acquire one?

[SongsFromTheOth]

Thanks

The Gittern was made by George Stevens

Type "George Stevens Luthier" into a search engine and his website will be in the results - sorry cant give the URL they get blocked somehow if you put them into the comments...

Mine BTW is the long scale 5c version.

[arieldickman]

very nice an special

[Luthval]

Superb !

More please

Val

[SongsFromTheOth]

Guys - many thanks! my first "cover" so to speak - the Gittern takes some getting used to but I'm getting some really interesting music out of it with the Gdgc'f' tuning - more to follow.

[LeoHareMusic]

Wonderful playing, Martyn. Reminds me wonderfully of the mountain dulcimer playing I hear here. Clearly there is an affinity between this ancient European music and the music of Appalachia.

[billkilpatrick]

what an excellent rendition! might be an ancient tune ... but you make it real. good to hear you again - bra-vo!