Dowland wrote the piece for lute presumably with a particular sound in mind. It’s a wonderful piece so of course it sounds good on a guitar, having its own unique flavor on the instrument. You could do the same thing on a kazoo though. It’s a lute piece and sounds best there
To me the chords of the Lute need to be tuned better, it's too ringing and annoying, maybe the chord sounds better if it's minor, the major chord sound too ringing.
Of course he'd say he's less experienced with the lute to cover his secret vampire status. He obviously had played it since its conception, with his experience with guitars being less than the lute. :)
Not sure he's a vampire since we have seen him play outside in daylight. One of those instruments may be hiding a sword though so he probably is immortal. Has anyone seen any katana wielding Scotsman around him?
Well a lot of legends claim that a vampire can be in day light as long as they feed, I like to believe he's a classy vampire bard lulling his victims with enchanting tones. The glasses are a clever trick to make him seem less menacing.
@@Vales55 Factor 1000 suncream ! That's how I get around going out in daylight. Vampires have never had it so good, modern technology has allowed many sangrophiles to explore the daylight.
Wish I could convey the beauty of Indian Classical music which has been there for time immemorial. Way before any other religion. This music and the Indian classical music do not overlap anywhere they are very different....Just for the general information.
@@fenhen Sure! It requires at least some knowledge on the listeners part but still. To recommend a few is like choosing from an ocean...but here you go...try atleast one from each category and notice that they start with a slow pace and gradually the pace increases. It includes various instruments as well as vocal. They are all playing the same music pieces called Raag invented many thousand years ago at least.. Instruments include sitar, sarod, surbahar, rudra veena. Go to my channel and find the playlist named indian classical various. Please do listen to Pt. Bhimsen Joshi miya ki Malhar I have added in the playlist it is 6 minutes long. In this single piece is conveyed the whole of the Indian classical.
The lute sounds like I'm in Hampton Court circa 1550 and the guitar sounds like I'm in the Court of Ferdinand and Isabella. In either case, it is melancholy and beautiful.
That's it, I'm sold on the lute. It sounds a little bit richer and "crispier" (banjo-like or not) vs a warmer sound of a guitar. I was into classic Spanish music for a while there, but a change into Baroque would be equally nice and pleasant as well. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge between the two.
'perhapes my lute playing hasn't caught up to my guitar playing yet' ... Plays Lute beautifully :D. You are one of the humblest human beings out there.
I like the lute version. Lute tone carries astounding mid-age melancholy beneath the struck melody that the classical guitar can't mimic. They are just two different instruments with each own territory disallowing an invasion. This piece situates on the land of Lute. Great work Brandon!
Yeah, I think a lute works much better as a standalone instrument. But the guitar would probably be the better choice in an arrangement with other instruments.
It’s hard to compete with those extra strings. 12 string guitars are _amazing._ If you haven’t heard it I’ll ready I recommend listening to Ocean by John Butler (look specifically for the “Max session” version!). According to me it’s one of the most amazing guitar solos of all time.
I prefer the sound of the guitar, the lute was almost too penetrating a sound for me ,then, on an iPad ! how can you ask us this, with our silly sound producers and our worn out ears ?
I do *not* think the lute has a "fuller" sound. However that's why I like it. I think most people like it more because it is not only different, but sounds truer to Renaissance times.
Upon hearing the lute, I am spanked with sparkle and caressed with a silvery tongue darting hither and thither. The guitar goes down low and hums in a special baritone bramble; soothing my spindly calves with a buttery resonance. Bravo!!
Very interesting! I preferred the lute; there was something almost magical about it. You should try this with a piece originally written for guitar and see if that changes things.
You want to know why you enjoyed the lute better? The piece was made for the lute. The lute was made to work well with high notes. I love what the guitar did for the piece that the lute couldn’t, but the piece had way more high notes than low notes. The double strings helps push the higher notes. I remember when he said that the lute had an extra low note but when he played it I barely could hear it. The song is meant for something that does high well.
I think I prefer the lute, however, if I came upon the guitar version only, I’d still hear the beauty of this music. Wonderful playing Brandon, and terrific video!
I have loved both the Lute and Guitar for over 60 years and I think you play each beautifully. I think both instruments won in this showdown because they can be individually selected for the different musical desires of the moment. Thank you and I will find your full videos and enjoy both.
As a lutenist, I can definitely say your guitar playing is more confident than your lute playing, however, you are still a better lutenist than I am :) Personally I find that because of the doubled courses, the lute flows better than the guitar (specifically in this piece, I do not generalize here), and the silvery, almost ephemeral sound of the lute makes it my preference. That being said both are beautiful, and I am definitely biased towards the instrument I play.
Thanks Brandon for your great care in preparing this video. Both instruments sound beautiful, and I can't choose between them. But your comments will help my non musician's ear to listen more closely.
That lute is dreamy, makes sense that the piece would sound better on that instrument as opposed to the guitar. It's apples and oranges and you can't really compare them but you can appreciate the two resonant perspectives.
I like the lute version better. The guitar version makes the piece sound more Spanish. Maybe more 19th century sounding. The lute version sounds more 17th century. Very well played!
I had the same impression with the Spanish thing. I feel that the quality and complexity of the guitar is a step above the lute, technically, because of it being a more modern instrument. But playing the piece written for lute with the guitar I think loses it's charm and character here. It's like the harpsichord to the piano, and there are just music specifically made for they're own
I'm delighted that your ears hear the same thing mine do. I hear the same time period between them but from different countries with different approaches to playing the same instruments and style of composition.
Thanks, I was trying to explain why I prefer the lute version, even though I could listen to both versions endlessly. But the lute does have the 17th Century sound.
The bass line of the piece is very simple, so all the story is carried by the high notes. Because of that my feeling is that this piece sounds better on the lute. Incredible playing and wonderful production. Your work is a huge gift to humanity!!!❤
The sound from the lute comes off as a little scratchy and the guitar sounds more full because of the marriage of both treble and bass tones. You really are awesome for playing both instruments so fluidly 😊
Really evident here that the lute is the guitar's great-grandpappy. Speaking also as an experienced guitarist, in terms of tone, I've been enamored with the lute lately, because I find its tone charming and bright. The guitar is like a lovely, warm dark chocolate. Rich and lively in tone too, it's just different. Wonderful playing too! :)
I must add to my comment below, that your sense of phrasing and agogic accent is so devine that it transports us to another time. The comparison is brilliant, and they both sound so individually unique. You are a master at this, and it inspires me every time I listen to you play.
Loved this video. I had never seen a direct comparison of the Lute and Guitar. I found it so interesting and educational. I love the sound of both of them and enjoy hearing the unique quality of each.
I wish more early musicians would do this. Having started out on guitar 50+ years ago I, too, tuned mine down and put a capo on it to perform lute music before eventually having a lute on which to perform these and other pieces. This is such a wonderful and insightful comparison. Thank you and looking forward to the "full" version!
the absolute mastery of your playing cannot be over stated. I found your channel many years ago, and never cease to enjoy it. I have played a few different instruments throughout my life, and am now embarking on learning to play the Renaissance Lute. thankyou for all that you do.
Beautiful music, thank you for sharing this! I feel drawn to the lute version for the “original intent” reason and the clarity/doubled strings that creates a rich, relaxing atmosphere. But having never knowingly heard the lute before I was immediately surprised by how similar they sounded, given your matching the gut strings and the playing technique.
Loved both; loved your playing. One thing not mentioned: as a multi-instrumentalist and sometime composer, I find that the particular instrument the music is composed on strongly influences the choices of notes and harmonies. The lute has more sharpness of attack than that particular guitar, especially in the bass. That allows for quicker runs and ornaments in the bass range on the lute. If this were written on guitar, with as deep a bass as yours, perhaps the deeper notes would have been written more sparingly, allowing for the treble to stand out more compared to the bass.
Oh, the beauty of both! But while they're undeniably very different even here, my impression is that you're playing the guitar with a capo, and adopting the lute-playing position for the right hand, brings them closer together. Put differently, and it definitely is a compliment, I've rarely if ever heard a classical guitar sound so "renaissance". Thank you Brandon!
Hi Brandon, Bravo for this cleverly done comparison between the lute and classical guitar. You are an incredibly talented and skilled HIP on both of these instruments. What impresses me the most is your humble approach to teaching skills and the manner in which you present your lessons and demonstrations. I absolutely love it. Congratulations!
Maybe a little late to this conversation, I do love both, but the guitar feels so homey to me. I feel warm and safe with the guitar. The lute feels like an ethereal fay thing outside our world. Obviously I’m sure someone who grew up around lutes would feel different :)
Great video! In fact, all your videos are just great. Not only in terms of use of time, sound and ambience, but also with regards to the systematic, synthetic and didactic approach, let alone the excellent pronunciation and, say, Oxford-ish vocabulary. In short, a hit or miss for guitar lovers and players!
Both lute and guitar versions are beautiful in their own distinctive ways. I think the comparison of the two is much like the comparison between harpsichord and piano. The guitar seems to have the potential for more dynamic finesse than the lute. I would like to hear a piece written for two lutes played on one lute, one guitar. It would be interesting to see how the two instruments blend and enhance eachother.
When I did the guitar Grade 8 (UK) I realised that the only pieces in the repertoir I loved (Dowland up to Weiss) were written for lute. So I bought a couple of lutes, and played them accordingly. I still have a couple of classical guitars, but I wouldn't play Dowland on them.,
Dear Brandon: Thank you so much for putting out such a beautiful, wonderful and informative video! Regarding my feelings on Lute vs. Guitar, I would say that each instrument is a whole, complete universe unto itself, and even though there are many similarities and parallels that can be drawn between the two instruments, when it comes to their overall musical expression, comparing them would be kind of like comparing apples and oranges - they're really totally different. Each is totally beautiful unto itself. What your video really brought home to me was that the old Renaissance lute music really needs to be revived and brought back into popularity.
Love the sound of the Lute. Been listening to Hopkinson Smith playing JS Bachs transcribed partitas. The lute has such an ancient romantic sound. However, I could easily listen to those same partitas with a guitar. Nice video.
I've never in my life heard a cover such close to the original. This is perfection. I can only dream of one day singing as well as you. I wish you all the best ❤
As a person who loves John Dowland and music from around that time I personally prefer the lute version, but it doesn't meant that the guitar versions isn't amazing, it sure is. But the lute has always had a special place in my heart, so already there it has "won" for me. I sure look forward to be able to enjoy both versions of the piece in the future! Thank you for another great and informative video!
When it comes to guitar playing you are for sure my biggest inspiriation. Had to say it after like 50 videos of you i watched for sure. Love you Brandon
Wow !... As a huge lute (and oud) lover, I almost felt disappointed to love this guitar so much, lol. It has such a deep, warm velvety resonance, that the lute almost sounds "dry" in comparison ! 😕 ... 😄 Another great video, thank you so much !
Beautiful Baroque Renaissance style music very exquisite, here in Ecuador it is very difficult to have a Lute, years ago I could see a Guitar or something similar to a Charango with 14 nylon strings tuned in unison, but with the longest mast, the largest body and the convex bottom, simulate a lute.
With these examples feel like, with the lute, I could be at a table having dinner and a conversation and still fully enjoy the music. Where as with the guitar I would need to sit I silence and pay full attention to what was being played. Both sound fantastic as usual. Cheers.
What a privilege it is to hear such a beautiful piece played by the same person, in the same manner, on two different instruments! Though to be fair, I think that this is really contrasting only this specific lute with this specific guitar. I enjoyed the greater resonance and darker tone of the guitar, but I also enjoyed the chorus-like effect of the doubled lute strings. I wonder how different this would sound on more lutes and more guitars?
If I had to transpose this comparison into the keybord instruments world, I'd say the difference is similar to the one you'd have between a harpsichord and a pianoforte. Just my own feeling ! (I'm not a musician but I love ancient music and "world" music). But whatever string instrument, your playing is always so inspired and elegant ! Thank you so much for sharing all that beauty with the world ! :-)
He *DID* live through the middle ages, lol...you might not be aware of it but here in the comments we often discuss how Brandon is actually a vampire and is 100's of years old, explaining his amazing musical aptitude, especially for older instruments like the Lute...scan some comments on older posts and I'm sure you'll see what I mean 😁
@@robertcronin6603 yes. It suffices to watch one or two of his teaching videos to, as a man, first question your heterosexuality, and then realize you are being hypnotized - - through the freaking smartphone. Wearing shades helps, without having to deprive your days of every joy entirely. However, I maintain that his remarkable skills on these instruments mostly stem from more recent times (as he even kind of gives away in this very video at 4:27).
Each instrument has it's own advantages and nuanses over each other. I can hardly tell which one is the best. I love lute version as more "authentic", but guitar one is not the worst. It's just other sound. Thank you so much for the amazing performance of this beatiful peace and opportunity to compare.
la pieza en lute suena sacra, y en guitarra suena romántica y misteriosa. ambas en tu interpretación me llegaron a lo profundo del alma. gracias!!!!!!🥰
I just love the attack and timbre of the lute as the sound decays almost going mettallic on this piece. The guitar sound is beautiful, but so uniform. It like a piano compared to a harpsichord on the same piece, completely different experience. And yes the guitar does sound Spanish.
Whenever I listen to this piece, I can't help but think of the time Julian Bream played it for stravinsky. It makes me laugh at how awkward he was, and now it also carries a sense of sadness with it as well.
Bravo. Who won…??We did! I don’t play but would love to. At 63 it’s too late for me. But listening and dreaming ALMOST gets me there. Thankyou very much
For me the lute has automatically a medieval vibe to me. It transports me to another time or into a fairy tale world. The warm sound of the guitar transports me to the south of spain of course where the flamenco originates from.
What I love about the lute in this context (other than the contrapuntal clarity) is that the sound is so foreign/anachronistic to my ears that it evokes an otherworldly quality and immerses me further into the music. It's kind of funny to think that this piece was once contemporary.
Very beautiful, both of your versions. That being said, I can tell you are much more accustomed to playing the guitar. Not because your lute version sounds bad by any means (it's gorgeous!), but it does sound quite... guitar-y, if it makes any sense? I don't know how to explain, but I'll do my best. I am from Spain, from Barcelona, but I lived in Seville (Andalusia) for most of my life, so I'm quite familiar with flamenco-style music. I am also a countertenor singer, so I am familiar with Renaissance and Baroque music too, and Dowland happens to be one of my favourite composers. And, while I was listening to your lute version, all I could think was: "Wow, I never listened to Dowland played like that!". It sounds, I don't know, almost like a flamenco version played with a lute to me, with some embellishments which are actually very used in flamenco music; I am not at all used to hearing them in English Renaissance/Baroque repertoire, much less with a lute. Maybe that's why I prefer the guitar one: it's more "you", I can tell. The lute version sounded really really cool, but a little bit odd and out of style to my ears. Please, don't take offence on my words, since I don't mean it in a harmful way :). You are a very talented musician, and can play both instruments like a true professional.
Tie. I also play classical guitar without nails, by the way, which is how the great Francisco Tarrega played and recommended his students play. I don’t actually have much choice in the matter since my main instrument is the piano, which requires short nails, but I do prefer the sound of flesh. (A really good nails player such as John Williams will vary the ratio of nails-to-flesh by turning his fingers.) I also prefer the right hand placed over the sound hole for the default position.
Both are wonderful. There is something ethereally beautiful about Dowland songs on lute. The main advantage the guitar has for me is the much greater number of composers for it. A composer like Sor can approach the musical expressiveness of my favorite composer Beethoven on the wider range of notes on the guitar.
By popular demand, you can now purchase my guitar tab edition of this piece (including my ornamentation) arpeggiato.com/music-arrangements/
Dowland wrote the piece for lute presumably with a particular sound in mind. It’s a wonderful piece so of course it sounds good on a guitar, having its own unique flavor on the instrument. You could do the same thing on a kazoo though. It’s a lute piece and sounds best there
Funfact, guitars are not flat. Try having two guitar backs touch each other
To me the chords of the Lute need to be tuned better, it's too ringing and annoying, maybe the chord sounds better if it's minor, the major chord sound too ringing.
Of course he'd say he's less experienced with the lute to cover his secret vampire status. He obviously had played it since its conception, with his experience with guitars being less than the lute. :)
69th like
Not sure he's a vampire since we have seen him play outside in daylight. One of those instruments may be hiding a sword though so he probably is immortal. Has anyone seen any katana wielding Scotsman around him?
Well a lot of legends claim that a vampire can be in day light as long as they feed, I like to believe he's a classy vampire bard lulling his victims with enchanting tones. The glasses are a clever trick to make him seem less menacing.
@@Vales55 Daylight vampire exist in movies.
@@Vales55 Factor 1000 suncream ! That's how I get around going out in daylight. Vampires have never had it so good, modern technology has allowed many sangrophiles to explore the daylight.
Huge props to John Dowland for writing a hit back in 1595 that's still popular over four and a quarter centuries later.
Wish I could convey the beauty of Indian Classical music which has been there for time immemorial. Way before any other religion. This music and the Indian classical music do not overlap anywhere they are very different....Just for the general information.
@@thskendjeo134 Is there something you can recommend?
@@fenhen Sure! It requires at least some knowledge on the listeners part but still. To recommend a few is like choosing from an ocean...but here you go...try atleast one from each category and notice that they start with a slow pace and gradually the pace increases. It includes various instruments as well as vocal. They are all playing the same music pieces called Raag invented many thousand years ago at least.. Instruments include sitar, sarod, surbahar, rudra veena. Go to my channel and find the playlist named indian classical various. Please do listen to Pt. Bhimsen Joshi miya ki Malhar I have added in the playlist it is 6 minutes long. In this single piece is conveyed the whole of the Indian classical.
@@thskendjeo134 don't care
Dude was a rockstar.
The lute sounds like I've walked into a medieval Inn. The guitar sounds like I'm drinking my sorrows away in a dark corner in said medieval Inn.
The Medieval Walk Inn?
me when I make up shit in the comment section for social points.
@@Whatismusic123 what is music
The lute sounds like I'm in Hampton Court circa 1550 and the guitar sounds like I'm in the Court of Ferdinand and Isabella. In either case, it is melancholy and beautiful.
@@cindyj5522My thought also. The guitar is slightly closer to the equator. 🌍
For me, it’s like comparing one’s love for your mother and one’s love for your wife. Both are beautiful. Great presentation.
Don't tell them which one is the round fat one.
@@robcat2075 come on dude. She's just pregnant
This is one of the greatest comment threads of all time
Both the guitar and lute should be appreciated for their own qualities. What a beautifully prepared lesson, Brandon! 🌞
Rob MacKillop has a version on a steel-string which is worth a listen too.
Makes me curious what it'd sound like on a 12-string.
everything *is* better with more strings
The Lute has a sound all it's own.
That's it, I'm sold on the lute. It sounds a little bit richer and "crispier" (banjo-like or not) vs a warmer sound of a guitar. I was into classic Spanish music for a while there, but a change into Baroque would be equally nice and pleasant as well. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge between the two.
I’m just here because my third grader asked me what a lute was from his phonics flash cards. Yeah, call me sophisticated.
No need for a winner, both instruments sound lovely. Really enjoyed your elaboration.
'perhapes my lute playing hasn't caught up to my guitar playing yet' ... Plays Lute beautifully :D. You are one of the humblest human beings out there.
I like the lute version. Lute tone carries astounding mid-age melancholy beneath the struck melody that the classical guitar can't mimic. They are just two different instruments with each own territory disallowing an invasion. This piece situates on the land of Lute. Great work Brandon!
The clarity of the lute really fits this piece best.
I enjoy the lute version a little better. It has such an authentic and pure sound to it and a much fuller sound. Great job, loving your channel.
Yes, I agree.
Yeah, I think a lute works much better as a standalone instrument. But the guitar would probably be the better choice in an arrangement with other instruments.
It’s hard to compete with those extra strings. 12 string guitars are _amazing._
If you haven’t heard it I’ll ready I recommend listening to Ocean by John Butler (look specifically for the “Max session” version!).
According to me it’s one of the most amazing guitar solos of all time.
I prefer the sound of the guitar, the lute was almost too penetrating a sound for me ,then, on an iPad ! how can you ask us this, with our silly sound producers and our worn out ears ?
I do *not* think the lute has a "fuller" sound. However that's why I like it. I think most people like it more because it is not only different, but sounds truer to Renaissance times.
Upon hearing the lute, I am spanked with sparkle and caressed with a silvery tongue darting hither and thither. The guitar goes down low and hums in a special baritone bramble; soothing my spindly calves with a buttery resonance. Bravo!!
For me there's no contest: my ears are the winners
Very interesting! I preferred the lute; there was something almost magical about it. You should try this with a piece originally written for guitar and see if that changes things.
You want to know why you enjoyed the lute better? The piece was made for the lute. The lute was made to work well with high notes. I love what the guitar did for the piece that the lute couldn’t, but the piece had way more high notes than low notes. The double strings helps push the higher notes. I remember when he said that the lute had an extra low note but when he played it I barely could hear it. The song is meant for something that does high well.
This piece gives me those weepy Renaissance blues. Tears in my wine goblet.
I wonder how a lute/guitar duet of this song would sound like...
I think I prefer the lute, however, if I came upon the guitar version only, I’d still hear the beauty of this music. Wonderful playing Brandon, and terrific video!
You make the guitar sound like the lute, how absolutely wonderful, most guitarist just cannot play with those subtle nuances needed for lute music.
I have loved both the Lute and Guitar for over 60 years and I think you play each beautifully. I think both instruments won in this showdown because they can be individually selected for the different musical desires of the moment. Thank you and I will find your full videos and enjoy both.
As a lutenist, I can definitely say your guitar playing is more confident than your lute playing, however, you are still a better lutenist than I am :) Personally I find that because of the doubled courses, the lute flows better than the guitar (specifically in this piece, I do not generalize here), and the silvery, almost ephemeral sound of the lute makes it my preference. That being said both are beautiful, and I am definitely biased towards the instrument I play.
As a Guitarist / Lutenist, I say well done to bringing forth the love of these two sister instruments. Bravo.
It's always great to see/hear someone doing something they love.
Thanks Brandon for your great care in preparing this video. Both instruments sound beautiful, and I can't choose between them. But your comments will help my non musician's ear to listen more closely.
That lute is dreamy, makes sense that the piece would sound better on that instrument as opposed to the guitar. It's apples and oranges and you can't really compare them but you can appreciate the two resonant perspectives.
I like the lute version better. The guitar version makes the piece sound more Spanish. Maybe more 19th century sounding. The lute version sounds more 17th century. Very well played!
I had the same impression with the Spanish thing. I feel that the quality and complexity of the guitar is a step above the lute, technically, because of it being a more modern instrument. But playing the piece written for lute with the guitar I think loses it's charm and character here. It's like the harpsichord to the piano, and there are just music specifically made for they're own
@@Zeemas What is it about the guitar that is more modern?
I'm delighted that your ears hear the same thing mine do. I hear the same time period between them but from different countries with different approaches to playing the same instruments and style of composition.
Thanks, I was trying to explain why I prefer the lute version, even though I could listen to both versions endlessly. But the lute does have the 17th Century sound.
@@jwadaowit was made more recently
I don't know why there needs to be a winner. They're both beautiful.
I didn't even watch, but just liked the video because I totally support what you do , you're such a talented dude and so clever .
The bass line of the piece is very simple, so all the story is carried by the high notes. Because of that my feeling is that this piece sounds better on the lute. Incredible playing and wonderful production. Your work is a huge gift to humanity!!!❤
These instruments are so beautiful. I love them both and think it’s so cool to see someone proficient in them.
Finally the age old debate will be settled
The sound from the lute comes off as a little scratchy and the guitar sounds more full because of the marriage of both treble and bass tones. You really are awesome for playing both instruments so fluidly 😊
I love this because it allows me to listen to Lacrimae Pavan over and over again without having to restart it😊
Really evident here that the lute is the guitar's great-grandpappy.
Speaking also as an experienced guitarist, in terms of tone, I've been enamored with the lute lately, because I find its tone charming and bright.
The guitar is like a lovely, warm dark chocolate. Rich and lively in tone too, it's just different. Wonderful playing too! :)
I love the Lute and never knew why until you explained the double strings, thanks Brandon a 60 year old mystery solved for me.
Hi, can you explain why, please ?
@@thierrynakache The mystery was why the Lute sounds so beautiful, Brandon explained about the instrument having double strings.
You play both instruments soooooo beautifully...Thankyou.
I must add to my comment below, that your sense of phrasing and agogic accent is so devine that it transports us to another time. The comparison is brilliant, and they both sound so individually unique. You are a master at this, and it inspires me every time I listen to you play.
thank you very much. as a prog rock drummer/multi-instrumentalist it is very treasured to hear!
Loved this video. I had never seen a direct comparison of the Lute and Guitar. I found it so interesting and educational. I love the sound of both of them and enjoy hearing the unique quality of each.
I wish more early musicians would do this. Having started out on guitar 50+ years ago I, too, tuned mine down and put a capo on it to perform lute music before eventually having a lute on which to perform these and other pieces. This is such a wonderful and insightful comparison. Thank you and looking forward to the "full" version!
Thank you. As a guitarist, I have always loved the sound of the lute. Your comments were tasteful and insightful.
Dowland and Acker are very impressive musicians.
This video is so great!
The piece sounded wonderful on both instruments.
dang that hit me really good, such a gorgeous piece on both instruents.
the absolute mastery of your playing cannot be over stated. I found your channel many years ago, and never cease to enjoy it. I have played a few different instruments throughout my life, and am now embarking on learning to play the Renaissance Lute. thankyou for all that you do.
Beautiful music, thank you for sharing this! I feel drawn to the lute version for the “original intent” reason and the clarity/doubled strings that creates a rich, relaxing atmosphere. But having never knowingly heard the lute before I was immediately surprised by how similar they sounded, given your matching the gut strings and the playing technique.
Loved both; loved your playing. One thing not mentioned: as a multi-instrumentalist and sometime composer, I find that the particular instrument the music is composed on strongly influences the choices of notes and harmonies. The lute has more sharpness of attack than that particular guitar, especially in the bass. That allows for quicker runs and ornaments in the bass range on the lute. If this were written on guitar, with as deep a bass as yours, perhaps the deeper notes would have been written more sparingly, allowing for the treble to stand out more compared to the bass.
This guy is doing such great work. ❤
Thanks!
Oh, the beauty of both! But while they're undeniably very different even here, my impression is that you're playing the guitar with a capo, and adopting the lute-playing position for the right hand, brings them closer together. Put differently, and it definitely is a compliment, I've rarely if ever heard a classical guitar sound so "renaissance". Thank you Brandon!
Hi Brandon, Bravo for this cleverly done comparison between the lute and classical guitar. You are an incredibly talented and skilled HIP on both of these instruments. What impresses me the most is your humble approach to teaching skills and the manner in which you present your lessons and demonstrations. I absolutely love it. Congratulations!
Wow!
You are a great musician and teacher Brandon.
Thank you
Maybe a little late to this conversation, I do love both, but the guitar feels so homey to me. I feel warm and safe with the guitar. The lute feels like an ethereal fay thing outside our world. Obviously I’m sure someone who grew up around lutes would feel different :)
I also wanted to compliment the ornamentation - the best I've ever heard. A revelation.
Great video! In fact, all your videos are just great. Not only in terms of use of time, sound and ambience, but also with regards to the systematic, synthetic and didactic approach, let alone the excellent pronunciation and, say, Oxford-ish vocabulary. In short, a hit or miss for guitar lovers and players!
Both lute and guitar versions are beautiful in their own distinctive ways. I think the comparison of the two is much like the comparison between harpsichord and piano. The guitar seems to have the potential for more dynamic finesse than the lute. I would like to hear a piece written for two lutes played on one lute, one guitar. It would be interesting to see how the two instruments blend and enhance eachother.
So would I, I'd even like to hear a piece for both a lute and a guitar composed for their distinctive merits.
To hear both in combination would be lovely .The two bring a full spectrum of bright and warmness that would be pleasing to the ears.
When I did the guitar Grade 8 (UK) I realised that the only pieces in the repertoir I loved (Dowland up to Weiss) were written for lute. So I bought a couple of lutes, and played them accordingly. I still have a couple of classical guitars, but I wouldn't play Dowland on them.,
Dear Brandon: Thank you so much for putting out such a beautiful, wonderful and informative video! Regarding my feelings on Lute vs. Guitar, I would say that each instrument is a whole, complete universe unto itself, and even though there are many similarities and parallels that can be drawn between the two instruments, when it comes to their overall musical expression, comparing them would be kind of like comparing apples and oranges - they're really totally different. Each is totally beautiful unto itself. What your video really brought home to me was that the old Renaissance lute music really needs to be revived and brought back into popularity.
Love the sound of the Lute. Been listening to Hopkinson Smith playing JS Bachs transcribed partitas. The lute has such an ancient romantic sound. However, I could easily listen to those same partitas with a guitar. Nice video.
Your presentation is wonderful.
I've never in my life heard a cover such close to the original. This is perfection. I can only dream of one day singing as well as you. I wish you all the best ❤
Have enjoyed today sensing your devotion to both of these instruments. Very cool and inspiring! Merci, du Quebec!
You are so good to play and speak about the sounds. - I understand and hear…. Like You and both.
As a person who loves John Dowland and music from around that time I personally prefer the lute version, but it doesn't meant that the guitar versions isn't amazing, it sure is. But the lute has always had a special place in my heart, so already there it has "won" for me. I sure look forward to be able to enjoy both versions of the piece in the future! Thank you for another great and informative video!
Thank you Brandon for that beautiful exploration. It made me love both instruments more. I really enjoyed it... -just lovely Thank you :)
Thank you!
Brandon, you’re awesome! Love your channel, incredible musician. 🙏
When it comes to guitar playing you are for sure my biggest inspiriation. Had to say it after like 50 videos of you i watched for sure. Love you Brandon
Thankyou immensely for explaining how to make your guitar a lute. I could possibly find myself playing some medieval song now
Simply beautiful. Magical and mesmerizing.
Wow !... As a huge lute (and oud) lover, I almost felt disappointed to love this guitar so much, lol. It has such a deep, warm velvety resonance, that the lute almost sounds "dry" in comparison ! 😕 ... 😄 Another great video, thank you so much !
Superb, Brandon! And your video production values are soaring!
Beautiful Baroque Renaissance style music very exquisite, here in Ecuador it is very difficult to have a Lute, years ago I could see a Guitar or something similar to a Charango with 14 nylon strings tuned in unison, but with the longest mast, the largest body and the convex bottom, simulate a lute.
I’ve been watching this UA-cam channel since I re started playing classical guitar after 15+ years. It became my favourite channel on the topic 👌🏼
With these examples feel like, with the lute, I could be at a table having dinner and a conversation and still fully enjoy the music. Where as with the guitar I would need to sit I silence and pay full attention to what was being played.
Both sound fantastic as usual.
Cheers.
Very nice video! Great content, not just entertaining but also educative, and also a warm nutrition for the sould. Thanks a lot!
What a privilege it is to hear such a beautiful piece played by the same person, in the same manner, on two different instruments! Though to be fair, I think that this is really contrasting only this specific lute with this specific guitar. I enjoyed the greater resonance and darker tone of the guitar, but I also enjoyed the chorus-like effect of the doubled lute strings. I wonder how different this would sound on more lutes and more guitars?
If I had to transpose this comparison into the keybord instruments world, I'd say the difference is similar to the one you'd have between a harpsichord and a pianoforte. Just my own feeling ! (I'm not a musician but I love ancient music and "world" music). But whatever string instrument, your playing is always so inspired and elegant ! Thank you so much for sharing all that beauty with the world ! :-)
Buena comparativa entre estos dos instrumentos con tan excelente pieza. Muchas gracias por el video Brandon.
I would love to see you have a go at renaissance banjo.
John Dowland’s lute music helped me get through lockdown. 🎶
If brandon had lived through the middle ages he'll be considered as one of the greatest bards ever
Absolutely. I wonder if he had reached his current level back then. Educational possibilities have sky-rocketed the last decades alone.
Nope. Needed for THIS era.
He *DID* live through the middle ages, lol...you might not be aware of it but here in the comments we often discuss how Brandon is actually a vampire and is 100's of years old, explaining his amazing musical aptitude, especially for older instruments like the Lute...scan some comments on older posts and I'm sure you'll see what I mean 😁
@@robertcronin6603 yes. It suffices to watch one or two of his teaching videos to, as a man, first question your heterosexuality, and then realize you are being hypnotized - - through the freaking smartphone. Wearing shades helps, without having to deprive your days of every joy entirely.
However, I maintain that his remarkable skills on these instruments mostly stem from more recent times (as he even kind of gives away in this very video at 4:27).
"""If"""
I agree! I liked both instruments, but the guitar was warmer and more resonant. Great job!
Each instrument has it's own advantages and nuanses over each other. I can hardly tell which one is the best. I love lute version as more "authentic", but guitar one is not the worst. It's just other sound.
Thank you so much for the amazing performance of this beatiful peace and opportunity to compare.
you have such an amazing and conveying the essence of tone this makes me wanna learn the lute
This is truly astonishing. Awesome video!
la pieza en lute suena sacra, y en guitarra suena romántica y misteriosa. ambas en tu interpretación me llegaron a lo profundo del alma. gracias!!!!!!🥰
I just love the attack and timbre of the lute as the sound decays almost going mettallic on this piece. The guitar sound is beautiful, but so uniform. It like a piano compared to a harpsichord on the same piece, completely different experience. And yes the guitar does sound Spanish.
The classical guitar is not “uniform” if you don’t play it uniformly. The classical is easily capable of a great variety of sound and expression.
Whenever I listen to this piece, I can't help but think of the time Julian Bream played it for stravinsky. It makes me laugh at how awkward he was, and now it also carries a sense of sadness with it as well.
Brandon, I love this! I am enjoying the Lute very much. Thank you!👏👏👏👏👏
For this particular piece I definitely prefer the lute! But anything played by Brandon is great!
Bravo. Who won…??We did! I don’t play but would love to. At 63 it’s too late for me. But listening and dreaming ALMOST gets me there. Thankyou very much
For me the lute has automatically a medieval vibe to me. It transports me to another time or into a fairy tale world. The warm sound of the guitar transports me to the south of spain of course where the flamenco originates from.
What I love about the lute in this context (other than the contrapuntal clarity) is that the sound is so foreign/anachronistic to my ears that it evokes an otherworldly quality and immerses me further into the music. It's kind of funny to think that this piece was once contemporary.
What's interesting to me is that the piece becomes so different, like a different story being told. How cool!
Very beautiful, both of your versions. That being said, I can tell you are much more accustomed to playing the guitar. Not because your lute version sounds bad by any means (it's gorgeous!), but it does sound quite... guitar-y, if it makes any sense? I don't know how to explain, but I'll do my best. I am from Spain, from Barcelona, but I lived in Seville (Andalusia) for most of my life, so I'm quite familiar with flamenco-style music. I am also a countertenor singer, so I am familiar with Renaissance and Baroque music too, and Dowland happens to be one of my favourite composers. And, while I was listening to your lute version, all I could think was: "Wow, I never listened to Dowland played like that!". It sounds, I don't know, almost like a flamenco version played with a lute to me, with some embellishments which are actually very used in flamenco music; I am not at all used to hearing them in English Renaissance/Baroque repertoire, much less with a lute. Maybe that's why I prefer the guitar one: it's more "you", I can tell. The lute version sounded really really cool, but a little bit odd and out of style to my ears. Please, don't take offence on my words, since I don't mean it in a harmful way :). You are a very talented musician, and can play both instruments like a true professional.
Bravo for using the same technique on both. Interesting comparison.
Tie. I also play classical guitar without nails, by the way, which is how the great Francisco Tarrega played and recommended his students play. I don’t actually have much choice in the matter since my main instrument is the piano, which requires short nails, but I do prefer the sound of flesh. (A really good nails player such as John Williams will vary the ratio of nails-to-flesh by turning his fingers.) I also prefer the right hand placed over the sound hole for the default position.
Both are wonderful. There is something ethereally beautiful about Dowland songs on lute. The main advantage the guitar has for me is the much greater number of composers for it. A composer like Sor can approach the musical expressiveness of my favorite composer Beethoven on the wider range of notes on the guitar.
Thank you, Brandon. You are a true Bard.
I love Brandon the playing and the history lesson cures my anxiety