Baroque Instruments
The theorbo - everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask!
Written by Richard Sweeney
Recording session with the King's Consort
As a theorbo player I get asked lots of questions about my instrument.
Questions like:
- What is it?
- Where does it come from?
- How many strings does it have?
- Do you play all of them?
- How is it tuned?
- Why is it so long?
- How, exactly, do you play it?
- Was it a usual member of a baroque orchestra?
- Do you ever wish you played the flute?
I do try to answer all these questions as I get asked, but for those of you who didn't get a chance to ask, or for those who would like to know more, I'll do my best to explain a little bit about the theorbo.
