The History of the Lute

The European Lute that is known today was actually "derive(d) both in name and form" by an Arab instrument called al'Ud (or "The Wood).¹ The Moors were the ones who discovered the Middle Eastern/Northern African instrument when they invaded Spain and brought the al'Ud to Europe in between 711-1492 AD through commerce.² By 1350 AD Lutes were widely spread throughout Europe and underwent many changes.¹

The Middle Renaissance (1500-1580 AD) brought many changes to the Lute. It went from four courses (adjacent strings that are tuned in unison or octave and plucked together as a single string) to six courses ("with the top string often being single) in a matter of a possible century.² Around this time, tablature for Lute music was printed and widely extended throughout Europe which led to a surplus in Lute trading.²

The families who created the Lutes were normally from Southern Germany and had such a well-honed and "established" craft that they married other family members which made the Lute skill "a powerful source of continuity which clearly lasted for centuries."¹ However, the towns limited the number of people who could create Lutes to twenty which caused Lute makers to immigrate in large numbers to places that they could run a business.¹ Usually they went to Italy for access of Italy's wood but kept themselves segregated from the Italian community in order to keep their German heritage and culture.¹

By the 1600s Lutes changed drastically in both sound and image. Instead of being longer the Lute was now more rounded and Lutes with seven, eight, nine, or even ten courses were not uncommon.² The 1700s also made way for twelve course lutes and a new method of string was developed.¹ They would "wind the wire over gut strings to make overspun strings" which led to new sounds and a new base for the Lute instrumental power.² The Lutes that used this string technology often had the first six courses tuned to minor cords, was both elongated and round and given the affectionate name the Baroque Lute.²

The 1900s composers were writing for 13 course Lutes and considering Weiss tablature Lutes were given a much lower pitch in this time period.² Many people claim that the larger Lutes made in this time period were taken from the "modern guitar."² Others claim that this is when all the "misinformation about Lutes started spreading causing the modern Lutes to be " confused with authentic old Lutes.¹ Around this time period fake Lutes started showing up in Museums and people tried to reconstruct the old Lutes. ² Nowadays, while Lutes are not as popular as they once were, they are still around and many people are self-proclaimed "Luthiers" for the Lute. There is very little history of the Lute left, it has been deemed impossible to find a Lute that has not been modified throughout History. Yet, The Lute society was created in 1955 and has been researching Lutes so that maybe we will be able to play Lutes today like they used to centuries ago.²