I have been listening to the old recordings of Raffaele Calace and was wondering if anyone nowadays is carrying on his tradition of playing the liuto moderno.
In addition, what makers are making them. Does Calace?
Jim
I have been listening to the old recordings of Raffaele Calace and was wondering if anyone nowadays is carrying on his tradition of playing the liuto moderno.
In addition, what makers are making them. Does Calace?
Jim
Jim
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19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
And who might have a photo of one of these rare birds? Measurements, scale info, etc?
From Spruce Tree Music:
Vinaccia Brothers Liuto Moderno 1904
Large size instrument by the originators of the Neapolitan style mandolin, 23 curly maple ribs, rosewood neck and fingerboard, 22 1/2" scale, five double courses tuned C-G-D-A-E one octave below the mandolin. This instrument was made for Samuel Adelstein of San Francisco, an important figure in the history of the mandolin orchestra. Shown next to standard bowl style mandolin.
Back of instrument.
Liuto moderno currently offered by Ochiai.
Those look like 4 course ones. Are they available with 5 courses and the proper scale?Originally Posted by (Jacob @ July 21 2004, 10:04)
Jim
Jim
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19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Liuteria Calace lists two liuti cantabili, models Classico A (41 fluted ribs) and Classico B (25 unfluted ribs). The prices are same for these and the corresponding 4-course mandocellos, so I have thougt they are identical except the number of strings (and probably fretboard width?).
greetings, Arto
PS: Jim, where did you find those old Raffaele Calace recordings? I have never understood why they are not widely available in CD format. There must be some millions classical mandolinists in the world (well, of course not all professionals ;-) and I´d suppose every one of them would like to have all available recording by R.C.
The closest I can come across the the 5-course citterns made by Stephen Sobell. The one on that page has a 20 inch scale and the lower course is meant ot be tuned to D.
I am also curious as to who (if anyone) is playing liuto as a solo instrument. Are they used in many orchestras or ensembles these days?
I see that someone in Alex's orchestra plays one by Silvestri. Alex terms it a "liuto cantbile". Is there any difference between that and a liuto moderno?
Jim
Jim
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Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Looks like Gabriele Pandini has made a liuto. Here is a quartet of Pandini instruments.
Jim
Jim
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Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Click on the photos, or lack thereof, for the instrument links.Originally Posted by (jgarber @ July 21 2004, 10:30)
Jacob:
There is no mention of 5-course instruments. I enlarged all the photos and they only show 4-course.
Jim
Jim
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19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
In the middle of the page for each instrument under Other is this data:
Strings: 4 o 5 doppie (4 or 5 double) - steel
Diapason: cm. 58 (scale length)
Sorry, Jason, I didn't scroll down to see the particulars -- the site is a little confusing in that way. The scale length sounds about right tho.
Thanks
Jim
Jim
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19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
Nope. #Ugo Orlandi also plays quite a bit of liuto cantabile. #Orlandi's may be most prominent on the Citta de Brescia mandolin orchestra's "Mandolin and Japan" CD. #There is even an unaccompanied solo on this one: Calace's IX preludio, op. 110.Originally Posted by (jgarber @ July 21 2004, 10:39)
Where did you find that Pandini image, Jim?
PS: The Vinaccia pictured at Spruce Tree that was made for Adelstein used to be owned by Paul Ruppa. It, of course, was sold to a Japanese collector.
The Pandini mandolin family looks wonderful!
Eugene, do you know any source for the "Mandolin Japan" CD you mentioned? I have wanted for a long time to hear how Calace´s solo preludes for liuto would sound like. Amazon.de lists this CD as not available, and .com and .co.uk don´t know it at all.
Thanks, Arto
FYI, back when the Calace shop printed literature to promote sales, they said:
As Arto says, they are only available in Classico A & B styles, but the catalog I have lists these large instruments as having #(A) 36 ribs of fluted maple and (B) 25 ribs of maple or rosewood. #Their scale is listed as 61 cm (24").Originally Posted by
In the most famous image of Maestro Raffaele himself, he's sporting liuto. #Check it out:
I think this image is also reproduced in Sparks's text.
I got my recording of "Mandolin & Japan" from the US's Amazon.com. #I wouldn't be surprised if they're out. #When such stuff happens, I search Berkshire Record Outlet. #Every once in a great while, they come through with the goods.
Eugene:Originally Posted by (Eugene @ July 29 2004, 06:56)
This one looks great. I assume from the name of this file that this is a Calace liuto. Any more details? When was it made? I assume that Ali would know since she is in the photo.
Jim
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
The other character pictured is grandson Raffaele Jr. #The caption at Ali's site labels this as "Raffaele Calace's liuto." #I'm not certain if this refers to Raffaele Sr. or Jr. The caption would imply Sr. as it seems to differentiate the current proprietor with "Jnr." #If Sr., it is certainly a more recent piece than the one he's pictured with a couple entries up. #Perhaps Ali will chime in and elucidate our pondering.
Hi,
It´s Raffaele Sr.´s own Liuto cantabile (also named Liuto moderno) and this particular example shows the final development of the type.
Cheers,
Alex
I've seen that instrument at Calace Jr.'s place and it is indeed the one you can hear on the recording made in Japan. Very nice instrument, I only wish that they could build more of them with as much skill and care.
The picture looks like Calace´s liuto would have a radiused fretboard. Does it?
Yes Arto, it does.
Best,
Alex
There's a great image of Raffaele Sr. at a recording session in Japan seated with the very liuto pictured above in his lap; Josephine Heidenreich is seated alongside at a piano. "Tokyo- 15-1-25" is written in ink at the bottom. For those with the CD on hand, the image is reproduced in the liner notes of Mandolin & Japan.
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