tag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:/blogs/latest-news?p=3Latest News2023-06-26T00:02:21-05:00Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonsfalsetag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/72324112023-06-26T00:02:21-05:002023-10-16T09:47:38-05:00"the ghosts of dawn" is now available!<p>My debut album, “the ghosts of dawn” was released last Wednesday, 21st June, 2023! I've been working toward this release for over a year now, and I'm pleased to finally share the album with you. All of the preorders have been mailed, so if you supported the project you should be receiving a package very soon! In the meantime, you can find it on all of the streaming platforms. <br><br>The album artwork is cropped from a picture I took with a 1931 Kodak Brownie No. 2 F from the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center in Denton, TX the night before the first recording session:<br> </p><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/157266/aaf9c76b793afbef44579ad3a3fb093840b155d8/original/star-trails-1-cinestill-800t-cooler.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>I'm very happy with how my design for the packaging looks in print, and the audio sounds great. As a perfectionist, I wish I'd had more recording time, but I'm proud of all 41 minutes and 33 seconds of the finished product!<br><br>At the moment I'm working to schedule a concert to give Eddie Healy's “Astrolabe” the premiere performance it deserves, and I plan to play the album cover to cover. I will share updates as soon as I have more details!<br> </p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/71129892022-11-29T10:32:19-06:002022-11-29T10:32:19-06:00Holiday Season 2022<p>The Holiday Season is upon us! I still have some availability for December 2022, and I'm really looking forward to playing Christmas parties and family gatherings. My holiday repertoire includes dozens of traditional Christmas carols as well as excerpts from The Nutcracker Suite.<br><br>Send me an email if you're looking for live music for your party!</p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/70417662022-08-19T15:03:07-05:002022-08-19T15:06:29-05:00A Long Overdue Update<p>It's been too long since my last update, so I thought I should post something.<br><br>As I mentioned in my previous blog entry, I have commissioned <a contents="Eddie Healy" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.eddiehealy.com/" target="_blank">Eddie Healy</a> to compose a suite of music for me called 'Astrolabe'. We're approaching completion of the suite-- the last movement to be composed is Virgo ♍︎, and then I'll have all 12 movements! It's difficult to believe that nearly a year has passed since we started working on this suite.<br><br>I've enjoyed learning these pieces as they have arrived, and I'm looking forward to recording them as part of my debut album! The idea is to record an album of music evocative of the night sky-- the 'Astrolabe' suite will have pride of place, taking up about half of the album, as well as Nocturnes by J. K. Mertz, and music by Vincenzo Galilei (the father of famed astronomer Galileo Galilei), Roland Dyens, and Frank Zappa. <br><br>Earlier this summer, I applied for some arts grants to help fund the project. I was awarded grants from the <a contents="Greater Denton Arts Council" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://dentonarts.com/" target="_blank">Greater Denton Arts Council</a> and <a contents="Friends With Benefits Denton" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.fwbdenton.com/" target="_blank">Friends With Benefits Denton</a> to fund album artwork and recording expenses, and I am still seeking other sources of funding to help make this album the highest quality I can. I've also entered the Jarritos "JarriTODOS" grant contest, which will announce results on 9-9. If you'd like to see my video submission for the grant, you can find it <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbR_aYtCaSY" target="_blank">here</a>.<br><br>Last fall I purchased a new guitar built by Marco Antonio Alfaro Jimenez from <a contents="Monarca Imports" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://monarcaimports.com/" target="_blank">Monarca Imports</a> to take some of the burden of constant gigging off of my Rubio concert guitar, and I have been extremely happy with it. I have enjoyed playing on the new guitar so much that I commissioned a new guitar from Marco Antonio! The new instrument is nearly finished, and I can't wait to hear it! It is a 640mm scale length guitar with a cedar top and Palo Escrito back and sides. I asked for a 20th fret, an elevated fingerboard (to more easily navigate the highest frets), an armrest for the right arm, and, since I'll be using it on this album, I also asked for an inlaid star on the headstock. Marco Antonio has been sending me pictures of the instrument throughout the building process (below), so I am extremely excited to see the finished guitar!<br><br>I will try to share more frequent updates as I move from preparing for the album to the production phase. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/9ca38cbc90aa093be825508e8c4e172a50a46ccb/original/1-soundboard.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />the top</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/5d37e42409b708dc817290753acbb381fe97fffe/original/2-back.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />the back</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/1fc3d36571a9673e5748b3ff263d1f5d7310c16a/original/3-rosette.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />the rosette</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/8c4d638d678b8af75ae1608a756c34735afb7201/original/4-inlaid-rosette.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />inlaying the rosette</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/a53d16c8407850927cf0ac78f4abf5bd9d38dc62/original/5-cutting-the-soundhole.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />cutting the soundhole</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/e054fc2774793660104cb1c9599a8b7086788c76/original/6-marking-soundboard-braces.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />marking the soundboard bracing locations</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/bc1ac237006412c8378e03be73b2822739e75566/original/7-top-and-sides-joined.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />top, sides, end- and neck block joined</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/a684feb4c54e48b7486f8f6dc757d79f438aa2a0/original/8-purfling.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />purfling</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/52fbdab6db93b7f4a2316b726705f1d84322ab49/original/9-tension-bars-on-center-brace.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />gluing center brace<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/7bbf763797259c9e3209074bcae95ff78c7a1f20/original/10-back-bracing.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />back bracing</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/127cd2468cec01c5245b0db654a66cef41788c05/original/11-para-jacob.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />'para Jacob'</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/6e0940e2cc03ddc194620d2aad41badd6363e817/original/12-sides.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />sides</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/4762d2c2823d179154e356393f2cca6b270bd0d3/original/13-top-routed-for-binding.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />top routed for binding</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/06ecf84c427b7a1d550cdd95df9e5195e27e9d15/original/14-back-routed-for-binding.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />back routed for binding</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/8c69eeebe5c6fb8d9536ca94764feb4893ddc0cc/original/15-binding-tied-down.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />a little tied up</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/46758250abb6569af12c970f64bfb35e793685d2/original/16-dry-fitting-the-neck.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />dry fitting the neck</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/ce31dd64121d7da71713188da1ef166370538de1/original/17-gluing-the-neck.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />gluing the neck</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/5645b09903c2bfa03bf3b11ac485d169bf754ddb/original/18-gluing-fingerboard-and-headstock-veneer.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />gluing fingerboard and headstock veneer</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/50901b43e423020ea0ecb0b0c28f84bf93754e8c/original/19-finished-gluing-fingerboard-and-headstock-veneer.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />finished gluing fingerboard and headstock veneer</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/81e6bf1c8416d89aa9fce6cdbcdaef888d00b851/original/20-fret-placement-template.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />fret placement template</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/3a37cd1ec66a2f63a937ab25b7b966782ed9287c/original/21-headstock-star-inlay.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />headstock star inlay</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/a7729dd3aede8319991b2dadd5aeef3b5b9481ac/original/22-finished-headstock.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />finished headstock</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/609938701356779f4585f2439921c78f48f74419/original/23-armrest.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />armrest</p>
<p>I'll definitely be sharing more pictures and video when I receive the guitar!</p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/68319772021-12-06T15:54:33-06:002022-08-14T02:26:35-05:00New Music and other News!<p>If you follow me on <a contents="facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/johnsonguitarstudio" target="_blank">facebook</a> or <a contents="instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/johnsonguitarstudio" target="_blank">Instagram</a> you probably already know this, but <a contents="Eddie Healy" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.eddiehealy.com/" target="_blank">Eddie Healy</a> is composing a suite of music for me called "Astrolabe" and it will consist of 12 movements named for the signs of the zodiac. I've already received Libra and Scorpius, and I've really enjoyed learning them! Eddie will be composing each movement during its namesake sign, so I'll be getting new music about once a month. I'll be uploading videos as I get the pieces under my fingers. I'm excited to see what he comes up with for Sagittarius!<br><br>In other news, the Winter Solstice (12-21-21) is rapidly approaching. As part of the Astronomical League's 'Astronomy Before the Telescope' certificate, I will be taking a picture of the solstice sunrise through the arch of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas. In order to complete this requirement, I had to calculate the azimuth of the sun at sunrise using my new astrolabe from <a contents="Jo at Wavytail" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://wavytail.com/" target="_blank">Jo at Wavytail</a>. The sun will rise at 7:25 am on 12-21, at about 118° of azimuth. I'll be taking a camera and a compass to the Trinity Levee Trail near dawn. Hopefully, the weather will be clear and I can get a good picture! </p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/67612662021-09-29T16:22:31-05:002021-10-06T19:43:41-05:00Kapsberger Beer Project<p>One of my lutenist friends, <a contents="Ryan Closs" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.ryancloss.com/">Ryan Closs</a>, recently suggested an interesting project. We're both homebrewers, and the plan is to brew a historical beer recipe and learn some music from the same period. We will be using a recipe that was written down sometime between 1679 and 1689 by the Carmelite monks at Dendermonde, and we'll be learning some music for the lute by Hieronymus Kapsberger. Once the beers are finished, we'll all be trying them. It's been a while since I had a chance to focus on some lute music, so I'm really looking forward to it!<br><br>As for the beer, the recipe isn't terribly different from a modern Tripel. The original recipe translates to:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Instruction to brew 16 barrels of good beer <br><br>12 vats of wheat at 24 stuivers per vat, that is 14.8 guilders <br>36 vats of barley at 20 stuivers per vat, that is 36 guilders <br>6 vats of spelt or ‘vorte avere’ [rotten oats?] at 18 stuivers, that is 5.8 guilders <br>40 pounds of hops at 3 stuivers a pound, that is 7.10 guilders <br>5 ‘waeghen’ of coal at 30 stuivers a ‘wage’, that is 7.10 guilders <br>50 pieces of wood at 6 guilders per 100, that is 3 guilders <br>for wear and tear and brewer’s work 8 guilders <br> 80.6 guilders</em></p>
<p><br>For the most part, I'm following the advice given on <a contents="Lost Beers" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lostbeers.com/the-original-17th-century-tripel-karmeliet-recipe/" target="_blank">Lost Beers</a>, but I made a few small changes to the recipe.<br><br> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Goedt Bier (by the Carmelites of Dendermonde)<br>5.5 gallons/20.8L<br><br>8.8% ABV : OG: 1.091 : FG: 1.023 : 35.16 IBU : 7.57 SRM<br>(Actual OG: 1.087)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Fermentables:</strong><br><br>12 lb. (5.4 kg) Muntons Maris Otter (63.2%)<br>4 lb. (1.81 kg) Rahr White Wheat (21.1%)<br>2 lb. (0.9 kg) Best Malz Spelt Malt (10.5%)<br>1 lb. (0.45 kg) Briess Cherrywood Smoked Malt<br><br><br><strong>Hops:</strong><br><br>3.5 oz. (98g) Hallertau Mittelfrüh (60 minutes)<br>1 oz. (28g) Hallertau Mittelfrüh (10 minutes)<br><strong>Yeast:</strong><br><br>2x Wyeast WY1214<br>2x Omega OYL-071 Lutra Kveik<br><br><strong>Brewday:</strong><br><br>Reiterated Mash:<br>Mash A: Step Mash 7 lb. Maris Otter, 4 lb. Wheat, 2 lb. Spelt.<br>1. 104°F for 30 min<br>2. 135° F for 15 min<br>3. 152° F for 60 min<br>4. 170° F for 15 min Mash Out<br>5. Room temp Sparge<br><br>Mash B: Single Infusion Mash 5 lb. Maris Otter, 1 lb. Smoked Malt<br>1. 140° F for 30 min<br>2. 150° F for 60 min<br>3. 170° F for 15 min Mash Out<br>4. Hot Sparge<br><br><strong>Water: </strong><br>Balanced Profile:<br><br>10 gal. RO water plus:<br>8g Calcium Sulfate<br>6g Calcium Chloride<br>3g Magnesium Sulfate<br>3g Sodium Chloride</p>
<p>I chose to replace a pound of my base malt with a pound of smoked malt because during the 17th century all malt was dried in wood- or straw-fired kilns. I chose the Cherrywood smoked malt because it sounded appealing and it was available at my homebrew store. Because of the limitations of my brewing equipment (BrewZilla 35L), I will be adding a pound of rice hulls to the grist because the wheat and spelt could be very sticky, and I will be splitting the mash in two in order to work around the maximum capacity of the BrewZilla. This is called a "reiterated mash" and it will add at least an hour to Brew Day, but I think it will be worth it in the end. I've chosen a balanced water profile because I think it will compliment the beer well, and because brewers have been adjusting their water since long before the 17th century. I'll also be using Irish moss during the last 15 minutes of the boil to help achieve a clearer beer. <br><br>Fermentation will occur at approximately 72°F. I plan to leave the beer in the primary fermenter for a minimum of 3 weeks, so it will probably be going into the keg and bottles around Halloween. At 8.8% ABV, it will probably benefit from a little age so I will stick most of the bottles back for a few months. I expect to be able to taste the finished product around Christmas or the New Year. <br><br>As for the music itself, I've been reading through the pieces in <a contents="Libro Primo D'Intavolatvra di Lauto" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://ks4.imslp.net/files/imglnks/usimg/d/d4/IMSLP322442-PMLP521883-libro_primo_dintavolatvra_di_lauto.pdf" target="_blank">Libro Primo D'Intavolatvra di Lauto</a> by Hieronymus Kapsberger, and I'll be focusing on a few of my favorites like the Corrente 12a on the last page of the book. I'm not used to reading Italian tablature, which is "upside down" compared to modern guitar tablature or French tablature, but after a few days of practice it's not so bad. My favorite thing about this book is the doodles between pieces! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/d9f4b792d83683618d12fc1b6e7318face5af90f/original/kapsberger-snail.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Snail!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/f95121d2b3e9012169c52cc5bdf3598decc5f2a2/original/kapsberger-rabbit-and-dog.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Rabbit and Dog!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/48a1ac21c3de457892838b3b2b36fd503b9b61b9/original/kapsberger-fish.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Fish!</p>
<p><br>I'll be posting some practice videos over the course of the project on <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/jacobjohnsonstringstudio/">Instagram</a> and <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/johnsonguitarstudio" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, so keep an eye out for updates!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/64273092020-09-07T15:58:44-05:002022-04-15T01:41:49-05:00The Astrolabe<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/77ca81c1439c5d0e0e5118352f44c862306d56e7/original/astrolabe.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="My astrolabe and its pouch" /></p>
<p>As a child, I asked Santa Claus for a telescope a few years before I asked for my first bicycle. Growing up I owned several little telescopes which were great for looking at the Moon, but not very ideal for much else. Last September, I bought my first big boy telescope: a 10 inch f/4.5 Dobsonian. Don't let the designation of 10 inches fool you-- that's the diameter of the mirror; the telescope stands about 4 feet tall. Since getting that scope, I found my love for astronomy renewed. Seeing galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae with your own eyes for the first time will do that! So, I joined the <a contents="Texas Astronomical Society" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.texasastro.org/" target="_blank">Texas Astronomical Society</a> and started taking my observations more seriously, keeping detailed notes and making sketches of each new object I pointed my scope at.<br><br>But what I had always <em>really</em> wanted was an astrolabe. I remember reading about them when I was in elementary school, and being amazed that there was a computer that could tell time and predict the times of sunrise and sunset for any day of the year without a need for any kind of power. It almost seemed like a magical device, especially since the very first computer I ever owned was a hand-me-down IBM personal computer with an Intel 8088 CPU. It was anything but portable, and all I really knew about it was how to give the DOS command to play "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" The concept of a computer that one could easily carry around with them was still the stuff of science fiction in my little 5-year-old mind. <br><br>Several years later, I was attending <a contents="Scarborough Renaissance Festival" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.srfestival.com/" target="_blank">Scarborough Renaissance Festival</a> in Waxahachie, TX when I discovered that a vendor carried brass astrolabes! I'd never actually seen one in person, so I asked the salesman to give me a demonstration. He proceeded to tell the time using the sun, and gave me a prediction for the time of sunset that day. I was blown away by just how impressive and beautiful the little device in front of me was, but at the time I couldn't justify the asking price. Still, it planted the seed and I kept thinking, "One of these days I'm going to buy one of those brass astrolabes," for the next several years.<br><br>One day earlier this spring I was aimlessly surfing the web during a practice break and found a website selling similar brass astrolabes, but the price was even higher than I remembered, so I started researching a little more seriously to try to find a cheaper (yet still functional) instrument. In the process, I discovered the <a contents="Astrolabe Project" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.astrolabeproject.com/" target="_blank">Astrolabe Project</a> website, which includes tutorials on the use of the astrolabe as well as a free astrolabe generator program which allows one to easily design a customized instrument. I also found an <a contents="Instructable" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-Customized-Astrolabe-Using-a-Laser-/" target="_blank">Instructable</a> on how to build it. At this point, I decided I had to go for it. I got a subscription to Adobe Illustrator and started working on the design I had created in the generator. Eventually, I sent the files to a laser cutting service to finish the project. Under normal circumstances I would have taken the files to my local makerspace and done the cutting/engraving myself, but with COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders those options were not available.<br><br>After about a month of designing and editing the plans, I finally received my astrolabe. It has all of the usual scales, plus a few specialty scales I thought it would be nice to have. Most of these scales are historically accurate, but since we now have an accurate equation of time, I included a scale for that. The result is an instrument that can tell the time to within a minute or so of clock time. On the day it arrived, I fell in love with using it and set about learning everything I could about its capabilities. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/6909cff2a0f1221396d8b3ddba2c08f4969b5ec4/original/astrolabe-reverse.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="Reverse of Astrolabe" /><br><br>As it turns out, membership in the Texas Astronomical Society comes with a membership in the Astronomical League. The AL has over 50 observing programs and certificates to help give structure to one's observations, and it occurred to me that there might be a program that included the use of an astrolabe. I was right, and so I began working on the <a contents="Astronomy Before the Telescope Observing Certificate" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.astroleague.org/content/astronomy-telescope-observing-certificate" target="_blank">Astronomy Before the Telescope Observing Certificate</a>. The certification requires some fairly intense effort as the observer is limited to using instruments that were available in the 16th century-- but that is right up my alley, and smack dab in the middle of my favorite period of lute music! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/6373858c12121dbaecf3891b8f6952fc6f5adb27/original/the-astronomy-lesson.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="The Astronomy Lesson" /><br> </p>
<p>So that's how I got involved with all of the astronomical activities I have lately undertaken. I'm not limiting myself to just the Astronomy Before the Telescope program, but it is, without question, the most challenging of the programs I've decided to pursue. As I work my way through the requirements of the certification I will continue to share updates on my progress.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/1532dd41fddf408a81fb6bdf7a0b89b416f3ab7d/original/transparent-seal-blue.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/64214572020-08-31T18:16:10-05:002020-08-31T18:17:21-05:00NOVA MVSICA MVNDANA<p><em><span class="font_large">"I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me." </span></em><br><span class="font_small"><strong>--Sir Isaac Newton PRS, FRS </strong></span></p>
<p>It occurred to me recently that I have not shared a blog post in two years. Therefore I have decided that I will invest more effort in my blog, and I plan to post on a (mostly) weekly basis. I'll still write about music, but I would like to introduce a few new topics and will be categorizing my posts accordingly. Namely, I have lately been practicing state-of-the-art astronomy-- circa the mid 16th century. I have constructed several astronomical instruments, some of which may appear in cameo as I make a return to regular blogging. This might seem a little out of place in a musician's blog, yet without invoking Boëthius we would do well to remember that Galileo Galilei came from a family of lutenists (and would no doubt have been a fine player himself), or that Johannes Kepler published musical models of the solar system based on the data which he and his teacher Tycho Brahe had collected. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/a49c7e76b5cd97dd6704374bf13d557e49cf5082/original/20200831-175443.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/54065612018-08-29T15:34:49-05:002020-08-27T02:26:09-05:00Radio Gaga<p>This Monday I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jenny Inzerillo at High Plains Public Radio for an interview and in-studio performance during her show, <a contents="High Plains Morning" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.hppr.org/programs/high-plains-morning" target="_blank">High Plains Morning</a>. We talked a little about the lute and its history, and I played a few pieces on the air. <br><br>It was my first radio interview so I was a little nervous, but I had a great time and I'm looking forward to stopping by HPPR again sometime in the future! <br><br>If you couldn't tune in on Monday, make sure to check out the <a contents="interview here." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.hppr.org/post/boy-luteacris-jacob-johnson-hppr" target="_blank">interview here.</a> When you get done, check out some of the other great musicians she's had on her show! <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/b08f05d279eca04c226371ecc16587d2c71c0c02/original/hppr-interview.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/48335492017-08-31T19:12:36-05:002022-08-14T02:26:35-05:00Ruminations upon Returning Home<p>As you may have read in my last post, I left in late July for Colorado-- the first stop on my summer concert tour. From 23rd through 29th of July, I was in Buena Vista and Salida, Colorado for the inaugural residency of the <a contents="Collegiate Peaks Guitar Retreat" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.coguitarretreat.com/" target="_blank">Collegiate Peaks Guitar Retreat</a>. I stayed in a mountain cabin at an elevation of approximately 9,500 feet, and I had lessons or audited with the "Guitar Guides": <a contents="Will Douglas" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.will-douglas.com/" target="_blank">Will Douglas</a>, <a contents="Emma Rush" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.emma-rush.com/" target="_blank">Emma Rush</a>, and <a contents="Kevin Manderville" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/kevinmandervilleguitar/" target="_blank">Kevin Manderville</a>. It was an honor and a privilege to spend a week with such great musicians! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/b8e7dc3ee98238a92296deafe6be7df042332278/original/lute-and-mountains.jpg?1504218549" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Buena Vista, CO</em></p>
<p>In Buena Vista, the focus was not always on the guitar: we visited the Jumpin' Good Goat Dairy farm and I got to milk my first goat. We also climbed a mountain trail up to the "Lost Lake" at 11,800 feet. I've never considered myself much of an artist, but between the beauty of the place itself and mild oxygen deprivation, I decided to do a very quick sketch of the lake. I had only brought a blue and a black ink with me, so I set to work with my fingers and wasted a few ounces from my water bottle.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/086f8d948c1a14bd720a06355a6a17a70165c043/original/lost-lake.jpg?1504218652" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>'Lost Lake' in Buena Vista, CO (above) and my sketch (below)</em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/6fd40a51ebb0c0f8245b6725295b9bf0e5595ea6/original/lost-lake-sketch.jpg?1504218673" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>Over the week the Collegiate Peaks crew performed several times around Buena Vista, including shows at local restaurants, Deerhammer Distillery, and The People's Stage. As the only lutenist, I got to provide audiences with an introduction to renaissance music (and early music in general).</p>
<p>My week in Buena Vista passed all too quickly, and I soon found myself bidding our mountain cabin ,,auf wiedersehen" as I headed north and east to Denver.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/9cf4796ca1a2e855115ed05c69154939dd3ed1ac/original/colorado-sunrise.jpg?1504219307" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Colorado Sunrise (above) and I don't recall what reservoir this is (below).</em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/a83f2641f589c622fe8c231db7efecb56b97ba14/original/colorado-pano.jpg?1504218858" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><br>When I got to Denver, I met my good friend <a contents="Russ Callison" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.russcallisonguitar.com/" target="_blank">Russ Callison</a> at <a contents="TRVE Brewing Co." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://trvebrewing.com/" target="_blank">TRVE Brewing Co.</a>-- the most metal brewpub I've ever visited.<br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/ada1cbc8910390ddd6678dc6eff58dfcb61f4aba/original/trve.jpg?1504218825" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>kvlt af</em></p>
<p>You might remember Russ from <a contents='my review of the CD "Eyes to the Future" by his&nbsp;duo, Derelict Hands' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.johnsonguitarstudio.com/blog/blog/new-release-spotlight-derelict-hands-eyes-to-the-future" target="_blank">my review of the CD "Eyes to the Future" by his duo, Derelict Hands</a>. It was good to see him, and we got to play a concert together for the first time in many years. A thousand thanks would still be insufficient to Russ and Taylor-- the trip would not have gone nearly as smoothly without their efforts. Special thanks are due Duain Wolfe for opening his beautiful home to us for the concert.<br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/5b8a39b925226854864f02bef473b3043dc3756f/original/denver-concert.jpg?1504219137" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>While I was in Denver, I had the opportunity to visit a gamelan orchestra's rehearsal... and to play the bell-tree for them! It was my first time to ever see and hear a gamelan in person, and it was amazing!<br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/3467250166c638104f2f0a827bd08c63c667d361/original/denver-gamelan.jpg?1504219171" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Gamelan Rehearsal (above), Bell Tree (below)</em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/b204c54d5ff60be20a66cff33aec300495a0d711/original/bell-tree.jpg?1504219200" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>After spending a few days in Denver, the time came to drive out to Salt Lake City, Utah. I stopped in Estes Park on my way out, and obviously, I had to see The Stanley Hotel!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/cd6cb9bb33ad70bfc72bffd4fed503aa79a7cad0/original/stanley-hotel-estes.jpg?1504219466" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>All work and no play at The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, CO </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/4767e05375a3808f94835908c05facf97971decd/original/welcome-to-wyoming.jpg?1504219592" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>the aptly named "U.S. State Not-Appearing-In-This-Blog-Post"</em></p>
<p>I was to perform a concert for the <a contents="Utah Classical Guitar Society" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ucgs.org/" target="_blank">Utah Classical Guitar Society</a> in Murray, UT with my SLC-local friend Susan Price. The drive took a bit longer than I expected, and I arrived in SLC with just enough time to drop off my things at the hotel and get a quick shower before the concert. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/227ca67abbd9e19146fb8cdedd14fc117ce4a2e5/original/slc-concert-sign.jpg?1504219725" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/78cf17439b508fad0562b098adb433b8c55df241/original/slc-tableau.jpg?1504219747" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>The next morning, I got up early and drove to Sacramento, California. Along the way, I stopped to stretch at the Bonneville Salt Flats. <br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/db84cab6164804ba54bbd046d7f8583796303f6f/original/bonneville-pano.jpg?1504219883" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br><em>Bonneville Salt Flats (above), Emigrant Gap (below)</em><br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/04f359b20732535c803e57bcf49dfe1ff71f8d97/original/emigrant-gap.jpg?1504220184" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>When I got to Sacramento, I had the better part of 2 days to relax and enjoy seeing my family before my next performance, for the <a contents="Sacramento Guitar Society" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.sacramentoguitarsociety.org/" target="_blank">Sacramento Guitar Society</a> in El Dorado Hills. I got to meet my nephew Max for the very first time, and spent time with my neice Sammy, my brother Mark and my sister-in-law Michelle. I don't often get to play the doting uncle that spoils the kiddos, so I really enjoyed doing my best to make up for lost time. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/33a2d055c99a9f769d79143bc641fa92d233152e/original/max-and-sammy.jpg?1504220124" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Sammy and Max</em><br> </p>
<p>Special thanks go out to the Sacramento Guitar Society, Daniel Roest, and Lili Williams for their help facilitating the concert, and to Don and Mehri for hosting my concert in their beautiful home. <br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/b27fedb4784e2740b9ed87643b02f7ef998e9585/original/el-dorado-hills-house.jpg?1504220155" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Due to a scheduling issue, I had to cancel my concert in Eugene, Oregon, and was unable to meet up with my friend there. Instead, I drove directly from Sacramento to Port Angeles, Washington, where I arrived just in time to catch the day's last ferry to Victoria, B.C.<br><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/1469ee457e260b41aa85f9f97d5eff3ebac020bc/original/california-sunrise.jpg?1504220264" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>California Sunrise, Sweet Calcutta Rain, Honolulu Star-rise--- The Song Remains the Same</em><br> </p>
<p>As tight as the scheduling was, I did take a few minutes to stop to play a few notes and take a selfie at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's theatre, which is based on Shakespeare's Globe.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/d77fdc93e2ccfddd4cf7c87601e6485c17056ad8/original/oregon-globe.jpg?1504220421" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Above: Rascal fiddler, twangling Jack</em><br> </p>
<p>The week in Victoria for the LSA's WestFest was amazing: I had lessons with Robert Barto and Sylvain Bergeron, and I got to meet some incredible people! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/beb791e8aea13241d8b7e42b4025761494fcbce8/large/with-robert-barto.jpg?1504220685" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>With Robert Barto (above), Sylvain Bergeron and Elizabeth Kenny perform an encore (below)</em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/8855123af70eaf8afa0b11f4ca5d406a6cde5167/original/bergeron-kenny-encore.jpg?1504220725" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>I did take a little time to explore Victoria and Vancouver Island, though I look forward to seeing even more of B.C. in 2019! One morning I got up very early and hiked out to the "other" Niagara Falls in Goldstream Provincial Park. Sure, they're narrower than their namesake, but at 47.5m/156ft they are almost as tall!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/7df49597b3872b0896caa53ffee6291abcdad9d2/medium/niagara-1.jpg?1504220794" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Niagara Falls, Goldstream Provincial Park, British Columbia</em><br> </p>
<p>At the end of the week, I bid farewell to my new lute friends and boarded the ferry back to the U.S.<br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/b3926c8fe61e2af8b03d43ba958847f3e68f2803/original/goodbye-canada.gif?1504220881" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>See you later, Canada!</em></p>
<p><br>I spent a few more days with my family in Sacramento, and spent a day in San Francisco where I finally got to meet the luthier who built my lute, Mel Wong. Mel gave us a tour of his workshop and taught us how to bend lute ribs. After playing on his instrument for the last year and a half, it was nice to finally shake Mel's hand. <br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/50f5bf40da61d186364e325396d12139feba23e7/original/michelle-bending-a-rib.jpg?1504221113" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>My Sister-In-Law, Michelle, learning to bend lute ribs under the tutelage of luthier Mel Wong</em><br> </p>
<p>Of course, I also had to get pictures of Alcatraz, sea lions, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Golden Gate Park.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/910377b3f4a7cae001024d26bf10b90af8469dc3/original/mark-and-me-and-alcatraz.jpg?1504221170" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>My brother and I, and Alcatraz.</em><br> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/202593ebaa90ce9b7fd2ec69d0df8469171b211d/original/sea-lions.jpg?1504221219" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>The Pier 39 Sea Lions!</em><br> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/fd6fdc273b43fd53d91f28a374c935007966e96b/large/at-palace-of-fine-arts.jpg?1504221297" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><em>The Palace of Fine Arts (above and below)</em><br> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/826084edb783697a1f6533b43557ca037b6ffd90/original/palace-of-fine-arts.jpg?1504221256" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/eb92f5c70f59710818e11b29e2ba58fc0ee7cee8/original/lemmy-at-golden-gate-park.jpg?1504221382" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><em>chillin' with Lemmy on the beach at Golden Gate Park</em></p>
<p>Unfortunately, I couldn't stay forever-- I had to get home to resume my teaching and gigging duties in the Dallas area, and my Texas family wanted to make a trip to view the solar eclipse, so I left Sacramento and headed south toward Los Angeles. I stopped at Sequoia National Park and hiked out to see the General Sherman tree to stretch my legs. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/9a75611cc67d74840fcb8e658e9159cd00999cf8/original/lute-in-sequoia.jpg?1504221590" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Sequoia National Park (above), Gen. Sherman Tree (below)</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/443b95b4bae4ceae8aa794c23aa9637d026f0190/original/general-sherman.jpg?1504221580" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>From there I continued to L.A., but I arrived too late in the day to do much other than get a cool picture of L.A. at night.<br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/9939dc867ea410b48304ce99095833097185e558/original/los-angeles-at-night.jpg?1504221722" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Los Angeles at Night</em><br> </p>
<p>Still, I hiked up to Griffith Observatory hoping to get the ultimate tourist photo: the Hollywood sign. <br><br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/18b1d37bc37b92725c856eb1c3a76007dc064366/original/hollywood-sign.jpg?1504221728" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Hollywood Sign</em><br> </p>
<p>No one told me that they don't illuminate it at night, though. Oh well, maybe next time!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I then turned east and drove through Arizona and New Mexico. My last stop before arriving at home was at the Meteor Crater in Winslow, AZ. <br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/10bdbc64a1ccfcd26d7fddf94683e8b593c6fdbf/original/meteor-crater-speed-limit.jpg?1504222164" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/0348acb714ce76fbb4c01f8c7f3fcaa181872eef/original/meteor-crater.jpg?1504222195" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/03b8f0a033a78a0d388e66941ea966c5fd03702c/original/lute-at-meteor-crater.jpg?1504222203" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Have Gut, Will Travel</em><br> </p>
<p>I got home and had a night to relax before we all piled into the car to drive the 12 hours to Illinois to watch the solar eclipse. We visited my Great Aunt at her farm, which fell right on the path of totality. It was amazing! I tried to get a few pictures, but a cell phone camera just doesn't cut it. <br><br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/5de61e94afc7b68619930a81002225b5c8187283/medium/eclipse-1.jpg?1504223063" class="size_m justify_none border_" /> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/2bfe608786b7b6c4e1e810a680e8c05cf5b89cd8/medium/eclipse-2.jpg?1504222904" class="size_m justify_none border_" /></p>
<p><br><br>As totality approached, the sky became as dark as it is at twilight, the rooster got confused and crowed for a half-hour, and the birds went to sleep.<br><br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/e2e33589d1f55654f5a7fd9dfa834811d698c6d6/original/totality.jpg?1504223312" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Solar Eclipse at Totality</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/ad1a74a2dc09adaa619e4c44a272fe6dc8582fd4/original/twilight-of-totality.jpg?1504222758" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Twilight of Totality</em><br> </p>
<p>It feels good to at last be settled in at home after a solid month on the road, but I definitely miss all of the breathtaking views, all of the giggling silliness of my niece and nephew, and all of the music-making and learning. I'd like to thank the <a contents="Lute Society of America" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://lutesocietyofamerica.wildapricot.org/" target="_blank">Lute Society of America</a> and Collegiate Peaks Guitar Retreat for helping me out with scholarships, everyone who donated to the trip, everyone who hosted me and my concerts in their homes, and my family for being so supportive along the way. I can't wait to do this again!</p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/47788172017-07-13T23:17:34-05:002021-07-08T12:26:38-05:00Summer Festivals Update and Salt Lake City Concert!<p>As you probably know, I was awarded a scholarship to attend the Lute Society of America's Summer Seminar in Victoria, British Columbia in early August. I have been fundraising for several weeks now to raise the funds necessary for the trip, and I have raised nearly half of the goal amount. I was also recently offered a scholarship to attend the Collegiate Peaks Guitar Retreat in Buena Vista, Colorado from 24-28th July. Denver was the first stop on my trip anyway, so it works out really well-- but it does mean I have to leave a week earlier, and increases costs overall. <br><br>All along I was intending to give concerts at each city I stopped in for the night-- Denver, Salt Lake City, Sacramento, and Eugene-- but I didn't have a contact in Salt Lake City to help me out. So, I reached out to <a contents="Utah Classical Guitar" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ucgs.org/" target="_blank">Utah Classical Guitar</a> to see about setting up a concert while I'm in town. I'm pleased to announce that I will be playing a solo recital at 8pm on Wednesday, August 2nd, at Cottonwood Coves Clubhouse in Murray, Utah. If you know anyone in the Salt Lake City area that might be interested, please pass this information along! Guests are asked to <a contents="RSVP through the event page on UCG's facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1892484164350077" target="_blank">RSVP through the event page on UCG's facebook</a>.</p>
<p>I hope to see you there!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/1b2520495ad69638c3631b3f39cc1002edd5e134/original/ucg-lute-recital-flyer.png?1500005742" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/47641392017-07-01T23:13:08-05:002020-11-19T13:24:30-06:00New Release Spotlight: Emma Rush's "Canadiana" <p>In this second installment of the New Release Spotlight, I am pleased to recommend the new disc from Canadian classical guitarist <a contents="Emma Rush, Canadiana" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://emma-rush.com/store/" target="_blank">Emma Rush, <em>Canadiana</em></a>. From Emma's website, "<em>Canadiana</em> features the music of iconic Canadian songwriters Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, and Stan Rogers arranged for solo guitar by Floyd Turner, and Appalachian Colours, dedicated to Emma Rush, by Toronto-based composer William Beauvais."<br><br>I met Emma at the 2015 Lone Star Guitar Festival and Competition in Weatherford, Texas. I really enjoyed her program, which featured quite a bit of music inspired by folk stories from around the world. I remember being really taken away with Garuda and the Suite del Recuerdo during her performance. I picked up a copy of her album <em>Folklorica</em>, and it's been on heavy rotation in my daily listening ever since. We've kept in touch, and I'm honored to call her one of my friends. She is not only a refined and expressive player, but she's also a great teacher and an inspiration to my own teaching and playing. <br><br>I was talking with Emma a few months ago about our mutual love of the work of the Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, and she mentioned that her next project would include a few Lightfoot tunes arranged for solo guitar by Floyd Turner. I was so excited to find a copy in my mailbox yesterday, I rushed into the house and immediately put it on the stereo. I'll admit I broke my own listening rule (first listenings are SUPPOSED to be 'cover to cover'), but in my defense "Pussywillows, Cat-tails" and "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" are two of my favorite songs by Gord. The arrangements are nothing short of wonderful. In fact, I enjoy Emma's playing of Canadian Railroad Trilogy more than the original-- I wish that that quality of rubato and sensitivity to the text was present in Gord's version. <br><br>There is a big difference between a straight transcription and an arrangement-- an arrangement implies a level of invention that approaches the song as a composer might. While a strict transcription might be more faithful to the source material harmonically speaking, a great arrangement utilizes the strengths of the instrument to create a new experience, and we see the piece from a new perspective. Mr. Turner's arrangements on the disc do this very well. I'm not as familiar with Joni Mitchell as I am with Gordon Lightfoot, but I really enjoyed "Blue" and "Marcie". Stan Rogers is a brand new name for me, so I had never heard "Northwest Passage" before this disc.</p>
<p>Another new name for me was William Beauvais, whose "Appalachian Colours" suite is dedicated to Emma. The piece is cinematic, and its titles alternately evoke for me the changing leaves of autumn, an early summer drive I once took through Acadia National Park in Maine, and my first sight of Lake Michigan after climbing the dunes at Saugatuck. Green is probably my favorite movement from the suite, though it's a tough call. **Edit: Wait, no, it's Red.<br><br>The whole album has a great feel for those long, introspective summer night drives, and I'm really looking forward to taking it on the road with me to Victoria next month! <br> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/2aba6047c5f04cac8fa49361737c5e6e9eb1d386/original/emma-rush-canadiana.jpg?1498965512" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>I'd also like to take a moment to comment on the artwork-- if you've been following this blog, you'll know that one of my biggest pet peeves in the classical music world is the ubiquity of lazy artwork and boring album titles like "Guitar Recital" (not to worry, Naxos; we still love you). In the last "New Release Spotlight" I said I hoped to see more classical artists bringing the same mindfulness and attention to detail to their album art that they bring to the music, and I listed off a bunch of non-classical albums that have what I would consider to be great cover artwork. Had I not been limiting myself to non-classical musicians, I would have cited Emma's <em>Folklorica</em> as the exception to prove the rule and a great example of how artwork can elevate the listener's experience of an album. I don't have my copy of <em>Folklorica</em> within reaching distance to double check, but I believe <a contents="Richard Talbot" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://thisisrichart.com/" target="_blank">Richard Talbot</a> is responsible for the artwork on both albums. I really enjoy the unity of his design-- on the inside of the sleeve we are given some liner notes over a background composed of an almost abstract closeup of the bark of a Paper Birch (the same species of tree featured on the front cover), and the disc itself bears a cross section of a log showing the growth rings. </p>
<p>You can get your copy at <a contents="Emma's website" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://emma-rush.com/store/" target="_blank">Emma's website</a> for $20. Stop by, snap up a copy for yourself, and listen to the pictures flow-- across the room, into your mind they go.</p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/47132462017-05-18T00:28:26-05:002018-05-24T15:42:00-05:002017 LSA Lute Festival West<p><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/3ec72e95b76bbd255f30dddaf0e7fffcf0b597a6/original/lsa-header.jpg?1495085058" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>I'm excited to have been selected for a scholarship to attend the LSA Workshop West this year at the University of Victoria, on Vancouver Island from August 6-12, 2017! This year's lute faculty consists of Robert Barto, Elizabeth Kenny, Sylvain Bergeron, Ray Nurse, Travis Carey (who will be teaching a class on lute building!), and Phillip Rukavina. </p>
<p>This will be my second time participating in the LSA's summer festivals, and I can't wait to be there! There will be lecture classes, masterclasses, private lessons, and daily concerts, and I will have the opportunity to perform in a recital with the other scholarship recipients, too. AND I'll get to help build a lute!<br><br>After doing a lot of research, I've determined that it will be cheapest for me to drive from Dallas to Vancouver; thence, by ferry, to Vancouver Island. I am no stranger to long solo road trips. Although I have driven some pretty incredible distances unaccompanied in the past (Dallas to Chicago in 18ish hours. Never again.), this will be the single longest trip I have ever undertaken, without question. Well travel'd in these Contiguous United States as I may be, this trip will cross off 3 of the remaining 5 states of this Union which I have yet to visit: California, Oregon, and Washington.<br><br>My pilgrimage will take me around 47 driving hours (for contrast, the furthest I have driven in a single go was Dallas>Chicago, and it took me a little over 18 hours in one sitting*). For this trip, I am hoping to split up the drive into 4 days of driving, and I hope to be able to visit with some friends and family along the way. I hope to see my close friend Russ in Denver (you bought Derelict Hands' "Eyes to the Future," right? Yeah, that one) I will also get to meet my nephew Max for the first time in Sacramento!. I hope to also make a detour to San Francisco to meet Mel Wong, the luthier who built my instrument for me. From Sacramento, I will take I-5 north through Portland and finally arrive at the University of Victoria. </p>
<p>There are still a few things that need to be done in order to be ready for the festival; the scholarship covers my festival tuition completely, but I still have to pay the room and board ($730), and I'll be renting a car to make the trip ($250). If you would like to help me get to the festival, I will be accepting donations of any denomination through my YouCaring fundraiser <a contents="here." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youcaring.com/jacobjohnson-825972" target="_blank">here.</a> </p>
<p>I am hoping to schedule some fundraising recitals around DFW in the lead up to the festival, and I'd like to try and do a few house concerts along the road to Vancouver. Keep an eye out for updates on the <a contents="YouCaring page" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youcaring.com/jacobjohnson-825972" target="_blank">YouCaring page</a>, on this blog, and at my <a contents="facebook page" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/johnsonguitarstudio/" target="_blank">facebook page</a>!</p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/46273222017-03-13T00:47:46-05:002020-06-28T18:41:56-05:00DMA Late Nights, Featuring Jacob Johnson, Part II.<p>I am pleased to announce that I will be performing two MORE concerts of lute music for the <a contents='Dallas Museum of Art "Late Night" program on March 17th' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.dma.org/programs/event/late-night-performances-galleries-featuring-jacob-johnson" target="_blank">Dallas Museum of Art "Late Night" program on March 17th</a>. The concerts will take place at 9:30 and 11:00pm on Friday the 17th in the European Galleries on Level 2. The 11pm performance may be moved into the Medieval exhibit. The performances are planned in conjunction with the DMA’s “Art and Nature in the Middle Ages” exhibit which closes this month. Admission is free for DMA Members and children 11 and under. Tickets are $15 for general admission, or $10 for students with ID and can be purchased online <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://dma.ticketleap.com/march-2017-late-night/dates/Mar-17-2017_at_0500PM" target="_blank">here</a>.<br><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/a7434900b5dd1bce9f66a23aa6b539b44e24f564/original/art-and-nature-in-the-middle-ages.jpg?1483807072" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br><br> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/169ccc69ad8e3acc3464dc8ae32641291a2cac82/small/wax-seal-final-edit-transparent.png?1477353004" class="size_s justify_center border_" /></p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/45411112017-01-07T10:48:19-06:002017-01-07T10:48:19-06:00DMA "Late Night" Featuring Jacob Johnson<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/a7434900b5dd1bce9f66a23aa6b539b44e24f564/original/art-and-nature-in-the-middle-ages.jpg?1483807072" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>I am pleased to announce that I will be performing two concerts of lute music for the Dallas Museum of Art "Late Night" program on January 20th. The concerts will take place at 9:30 and 11:00pm on Friday the 20th in the European Galleries on Level 2. The performances are planned in conjunction with the DMA’s “Art and Nature in the Middle Ages” exhibit which will run through March. Admission is free for DMA Members and children 11 and under. Tickets are $15 for general admission, or $10 for students with ID. Tickets can be purchased online <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.dma.org/programs/event/late-night-performances-galleries-featuring-jacob-johnson" target="_blank">here</a>. There will be other musical performances featured throughout the evening in other parts of the Museum, and there will be a screening of the 1985 movie "Ladyhawke" with Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer. It's an old favorite of mine but it starts at 10, so be sure to come see me at 9:30 if you're going to the movie! I was a little disappointed that I won't be able to see it, so I watched it the other night :D <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/464cd26a09d508a513200eb6b67d5f11fade6432/original/stained-glass-dma.jpg?1483807638" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>When I stopped by the museum to do a walk-through, I was given the opportunity to choose between two spaces in which to perform. Unfortunately, in order to have a space large enough for seating I was unable to perform in the Medieval exhibit, but the acoustics of the Museum's galleries are wonderful so I anticipated a difficult decision. So we looked at the European Galleries on the second level. I chose the space I did because there already existed an invocation of Music on the wall.<br><br>The painting stuck with me when I got home, so I looked it up in the Museum's digital collection. If you click the image, you can listen to a 30ish minute talk by SMU's Endowed Chair of Art History, Dr. Amy Freund, about the painting. It's really interesting, and she mentions something I have always firmly believed: <strong>"The arts, music as well, are radical implements for change and civic involvement."</strong> She goes on to say "at this very crazy time period in French history," but I think that part is useless information. The first part of her statement is true at all times, and in all places. <br><br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.dma.org/audio/giroust-harp-lesson" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/721aef4d10d32faf7ea34e5937ff075f4138caf4/medium/the-harp-lesson-1791-jean-antoine-theodore-giroust.jpg?1483804765" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a><br>You'll be able to find me in front of "The Harp Lesson" by Jean Antoine Theodore Giroust at 9:30pm and 11pm on January 20th, 2017. Come on out, and have a great time!</p>
<p><a contents="More information on the DMA’s Late Night programs&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.dma.org/programs/late-nights">More information on the DMA’s Late Night programs</a> </p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/45248132016-12-24T21:15:51-06:002021-01-18T10:38:49-06:00New Release Spotlight: Derelict Hands' "Eyes to the Future"It is my great pleasure to recommend to you the debut album by classical guitar duo <a contents="Derelict Hands" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.derelicthands.com/" target="_blank">Derelict Hands</a>, "Eyes to the Future", which was released 12-23-16. Derelict Hands is Calum Borthwick and Russ Callison, both musicians of a very high caliber. As some of you may be aware, Russ and I started our guitar studies at about the same time, both studying under Sabine Madriguera at Collin College. Back in the day we wrote a bunch of music together, made a really fun single with another of our friends, and played in a metal band called "The Mourning Report". lol. Back to the album.<br><br>The playing is incredibly polished throughout, and the production by William Johnston (as well as his video of the duo's performance of the Schoenberg) is some of the best I have ever heard in a classical guitar recording. The album opens with three duets by Philip Houghton, which are followed by the "earliest" pieces on the record, the "Sechs kleine Klavierstücke" by Arnold Schoenberg, which have been masterfully arranged for two guitars by Calum. The duo worked with Frank Wallace on his Duo Sonata, and their performance of that work is wonderful. The Protase de Loin a Rein by Akira Miyoshi is probably my favorite piece on the album at the moment. The Bogdanovic Sonata Fantasia makes a great closing work, keeping the intensity up all the way to the very last note.<br><br>Perhaps one of the most difficult challenges performers face is the program: it is not simply a matter of playing one piece after the other. It is not enough to order a program, as so many do, with the earliest music at the front and the latest at the back. It is a matter of knowing which piece needs to be heard at what time in the context of the overall listening experience in order to create something greater than the sum of its pieces. It's about meeting the listener where they are and taking them down a very specific path. Crafting a program really is an art in itself, and Eyes to the Future's program hits that admittedly high mark. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/533e09dafa5a0402e6b2fdb6b279af1e5d667077/original/derelict-hands-eyes-to-the-future.jpg?1482634857" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>The album artwork was created by Elizabeth Hilliard, and it makes the usual classical album cover art look just as lazy as it is. Ms. Hilliard's artwork augments and elevates the album experience. I really hope to see more classical musicians take their cover art seriously and commission artists like Ms. Hilliard to create something new and beautiful rather than sticking with the sterile formula of a public domain painting + "museum card" artwork. Like the guys of Derelict Hands, I'm a guy that's been spoiled by the undeniably great artwork of the non-classical albums I know and love, like King Crimson's "In the Court of the Crimson King", Protest the Hero's "Fortress", Storm Corrosion's self-titled, etc., etc., etc. The artwork is always an integral part of the experience, so there is absolutely no excuse for the ugly, boring album covers we have seen out of the vast majority of classical musicians. This music is really exciting stuff; the artwork ought to be as well. <br><br>You can get your copy of "Eyes to the Future" at <a contents="Derelict Hands' webstore" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.derelicthands.com/webstore/" target="_blank">Derelict Hands' webstore</a> in digital ($10) or physical formats ($15). I already got up on this soapbox a little bit, but you should definitely get the physical copy so you can enjoy the artwork along with the performance. So stop by Derelict Hands' site, get yourself a copy, and keep an eye on these guys!Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/40983182016-03-21T14:20:53-05:002019-06-15T04:09:56-05:002016 LSA Lute Fest<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/13ea0735f49a5ce3ffac4a735622a819c1f7d0de/large/cleveland-lute-festival-2016.gif?0" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /><br><br>I am excited to announce that I will be in attendance for the Lute Society of America's biennial Lute Festival! I have already purchased my airfare, I've made arrangements to stay with one of my cousins that lives in the area, and I will officially register for the festival in just a few weeks. This year's lute faculty consist of Robert Barto, Xavier Díaz-Latorre, Jakob Lindberg, Ronn McFarlane, Christopher Morrongiello, Nigel North, Paul O'Dette, and Charlie Weaver. There will also be two voice teachers, Ellen Hargis and Dame Emma Kirkby.<br><br>This will be my first time participating in an early music festival, and I can't wait to be there! Since I began studying the lute, I have only had access to a lute teacher on a handful of occasions. My first lute lesson ever was in November of 2014 with Hopkinson Smith (nothing like starting at the top, amirite?). Since then, I have studied with Michael Craddock when he is in town. But that works out to just one or two lute lessons a year. At this year's edition of the LSA Lute Fest, I will be immersed in the lute and early music culture. I will have opportunities to study with some of the finest early music specialists in the world, as well as the chance to meet other lutenists and early music enthusiasts from all over the US (and maybe even a few from outside the US!). I believe there will be daily concerts as well. Since I have been very active with the lute since my first instrument arrived, it seems crazy to note that there have been only two lute concerts in the DFW area since 2004 of which I am aware. Both of those concerts were given by Hopkinson Smith, and I was in the audience both times. <br><br>Aside from all of the festival activities, I will also get to meet my cousin's husband and son! I haven't seen her since before she got married, so it will be nice to have some time to catch up.<br><br>In order to ensure the safety of my instrument on the trip, I had to buy two seats. This way, the lute has its own seat. Otherwise, it would have been traveling in an overhead compartment (assuming there was enough room at boarding time) or stuck underneath the plane (i.e. the pit of despair). Having seen far too many instruments broken by airlines over the past several years, I decided that it was worth doubling my travel costs in order to know that the lute would be in safe (read: my) hands for the entire journey. <br><br>There are still a few things that need to be done in order to be ready for the festival. I still have to pay the festival tuition ($550) and I'll need to get a better case for my lute (~$500). If you would like to help me get to the festival, I will be accepting <a contents="donations of any denomination" data-link-label="Tip Jar" data-link-type="page" href="/tip-jar" target="_blank">donations of any denomination</a> through PayPal. I am hoping to schedule some lute and guitar recitals at several DFW venues in the lead up to the festival. Keep an eye out for updates on this blog and at my <a contents="facebook page" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/johnsonguitarstudio/" target="_blank">facebook page</a>!Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/40864602016-03-13T22:45:25-05:002020-06-28T18:42:25-05:00Texas Guitar Competition and Festival, UT Dallas 2016Well, the Texas Guitar Competition and Festival hosted at UT Dallas has come and gone. It has been a busy week, so I haven't had a chance to sit down and write an update. I played well in the semifinal round, and while I am proud of the improvements I have made in my playing since the last UTD festival, I did not advance to the final round. I got to meet several players from all over the world, and the finals performances were very good!<br><br>I was able to participate in three masterclasses over the course of the festival, and luckily my friend Eddie Healy was able to catch some pictures. So, here they are!<br><br> <hr><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/3db56785f256b81b84ac43d47658a71c8536e299/large/jeremy-jouve-masterclass-2016-3.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br><br>Thursday afternoon was the semifinal round. I played around 1:15p, and while it was certainly not a 'peak' performance, I was mostly happy with how I played. Later that evening, Jérémy Jouve (above) gave a masterclass in the Jonsson Performance Hall. I played the first movement of the Musikones suite by John W. Duarte, and Jérémy had some great suggestions for me. Unfortunately I had to miss his concert later on in the festival, but it was a pleasure to meet him and pick his brain a bit.<br><br><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/70743354c2c275ba69fdf0ffdd9731199c03457a/original/craddock-masterclass-2016.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br><br><br>On Friday morning I had the opportunity to play in masterclass for Michael Craddock on my new Mel Wong 8-course. He is an early music specialist, and an accomplished player of lute, theorbo, vihuela, and renaissance guitar as well as the modern classical guitar. He's also a really fun guy with a good sense of humor. We worked on the Frogg Galliard as it is found in the Folger Manuscript. We got quite a bit of work done in the class, but the next day we had a private lute lesson together and spent the whole hour on the more nitty gritty stuff. Every time he comes into town, I try to schedule a lesson. Otherwise, I'm kinda on my own with the lute! <br><br><br><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/a80ef711279935fd0fba4a25698b745a77b0e0a1/large/romero-masterclass-2016.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br><br><br>Later that afternoon I had a masterclass with Celino and Lito Romero. I played a guitar transcription of the Prelude from a lute sonata originally in D minor by S. L. Weiss. They were also a lot of fun to work with, and their advice helped to inspire a new 'vision' for the piece. <br><br><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/1356d4f2b46f45b4a4b7ecd59ce1c1fa2d36506b/original/playing-aarons-cedarcedar-doubletop-at-2016-utd-festival.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br><br><br>On Saturday there was a "Luthier Showcase" in which instruments by a variety of luthiers were played on the stage at the Clark Center. I was asked to play a brand new cedar/cedar doubletop built by good friend of mine, Aaron Ringo of <a contents="Wood Ring Guitars" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.woodringguitars.com" target="_blank">Wood Ring Guitars</a>. It was a pleasure to play on it. Like all of the other Wood Ring Guitars that I've played, the tone was beautiful and it felt very natural and comfortable in the hands. Its timbral palette was already quite wide, and it was nearly effortless to get the kind of nuance and variety of tone colors that I wanted. Needless to say, I was reluctant to put it down. It's a very fine instrument, and I believe it is currently up for sale on his website. If you're in the market for a concert guitar, you absolutely can't go wrong with this one.<br><br><br> <hr>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/40290122016-02-06T22:07:25-06:002018-05-24T15:43:15-05:00New Lute!<p>Last Tuesday I sold my first lute and on Monday 2-1-16, I received a brand new 8-course renaissance lute built for me by luthier Mel Wong of <a contents="Blackbird String Arts" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.blackbirdstringarts.com" target="_blank">Blackbird String Arts</a> in San Francisco. I am very excited about this gorgeous new instrument, and I thought I would share with you some pictures and a little information about it. I will be recording a few pieces with it over the next few weeks, so be on the lookout!<br><br>Mel based my new lute on a series of lutes made circa 1599 by a German luthier from Tieffenbruck in the Bavarian Alps named Michielle Hartung. According to Grove Music Online, Hartung purchased his freedom in 1590 and subsequently apprenticed under Leonardo Tieffenbrucker the Younger in Venice. Hartung was one of several influential German luthiers (including Leonardo Tieffenbrucker the Elder and Wendelin Tieffenbrucker) living in Padova, Italy around the turn of the 17th century. In fact, Hartung married Wendelin Tieffenbrucker's daughter. These German luthiers are sometimes referred to as the Füssen School due to their previous connections with that city's rich tradition of instrument building. <br><br>Padova is about 25 miles west of Venice. There has been a renowned University at Padova since 1222, which employed Galileo Galilei (himself a fine lutenist, and the son of famous professional lutenist, composer, and theoretician Vincenzo Galilei) as a mathematics lecturer from 1592 to 1610. Considering that the population of Padova in 1600 AD was just over 15,000 people, I don't think it's at all unreasonable to suggest that Galilei and Hartung may have known each other. I would love to read the Galileo letters to see if there is a mention of such a meeting. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell these letters have never been translated into English and my grasp of Italian is no match for early 17th century manuscripts.</p>
<p>Two of the original instruments on which my lute is based are actually bass lutes tuned in E and are currently housed in the Germanisches National Museum, Nurnberg collection, catalog numbers MI 44 and MI 56. Another is a tenor lute (like this one) tuned in G, and located at the Museo Civico Medievale in Bologna, catalog No. 1808. Hartung, like most luthiers, used labels inside the instrument to identify his works. His labels for these instruments read: </p>
<p>"M. Hartung in Padova me fecit, anno 1599" which translates to "M. Hartung made me in Padova in the year 1599"</p>
<p> My own instrument is a simplified version of the original body design. Looking at the original instruments listed above, it seems to me that the body shape is more like the MI 56 lute, but the rose is certainly the MI 44. The soundboard is Engelmann Spruce, the bowl is made of flamed maple, the neck is made of Honduras mahogany, the pegbox is made of beech, and the tuning pegs are boxwood.<br><br>I've included pictues of the instrument made for me by Mel Wong and pictures of MI 44 (bottom left) and 56 (bottom right) for comparison. I have not yet found images of the one at Bologna.<br><br>"Packington's Pound" was recorded on the new instrument, and is included below if you'd like to hear how it sounds!<br><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/272b5061eaeae97b435489d994f786d120fd39d2/original/full-body-2.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/d1a5de68b03777244019ff92e1e61624ded24e3c/small/front-2.jpg?0" class="size_s justify_none border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/6c5db00631184e620f898c162c556b8991a024e0/small/rose-2.jpg?0" class="size_s justify_none border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/1e1be2a190ea513fb93da92a3eae11e4e4af87f8/small/pegbox-2.jpg?0" class="size_s justify_none border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/02c36531569ee6d4895150498356019ab6b37aec/small/back-2.jpg?0" class="size_s justify_none border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/c94ba6236afa235c8ba32ef2acc2b7d88caadb3b/medium/michiele-hartung-mi-44.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/12d397a7080e117e8521e1045f1f9799ef0ea63a/medium/michiele-hartung-mi-56.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_right border_" /><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=613693828/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=0f91ff/tracklist=false/track=887495795/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 350px; height: 470px;">&amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href="http://johnsonguitarstudio.bandcamp.com/album/gradus-ad-victoria" href="http://johnsonguitarstudio.bandcamp.com/album/gradus-ad-victoria"&amp;gt;Gradus ad Victoria by Jacob Johnson&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;</iframe></p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/39654822015-12-17T00:07:17-06:002020-05-27T22:39:56-05:00Jacob Johnson with the Millennial Choirs and OrchestraLast night was my first performance as a soloist with the Millennial Choirs and Orchestra! Both the 12-15 and 12-17 concerts sold out quickly. It is a pleasure to work with so many fine musicians. Here's a picture from our first rehearsal. You can't quite make out the choir behind the ensemble, and there's more choir in front as well!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/a71cacd1c881c7282fb79357e5946aec64651775/original/millennial-choir-and-orchestra-rehearsal.jpg?1450332206" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>Unfortunately as I mentioned, the concert this evening is already sold out. However, you can still get tickets for my performances of <em>Los Pastores</em> with the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra on 12-19. There will be two performances: a 5pm show and a 7.30pm show.
<p><a contents="Ticket information is available here." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://mesquitesymphony.weebly.com/concert-schedule--tickets.html" target="_blank">Ticket information is available here</a>.</p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/39513922015-12-05T13:10:13-06:002020-08-27T02:27:05-05:00Mesquite Symphony Orchestra and Eastfield Chorus featuring Jacob Johnson, guitar<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/fb841aa031efb3143aa4994b7ed58cb46262d799/original/mesquite-symphony-rehearsal.jpg?1449342226" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>Today was my first rehearsal with the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra and Eastfield Chorus! I will be joining them for part of their Christmas program on 12-19. The pieces I am playing are from a Spanish traditional drama called "Los Pastores". It has been a pleasure to prepare for this concert and work with the ensembles! There will be two performances: a 5pm show and a 7.30pm show. <br><br>Ticket information is <a contents="available here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://mesquitesymphony.weebly.com/concert-schedule--tickets.html" target="_blank">available here</a>. <br><br>I hope to see you there! It's sure to be a very good concert. Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/39198922015-11-08T23:04:31-06:002020-06-28T18:42:53-05:009th Annual Collin College Guitar CompetitionI was entered in Collin College's 9th Annual Guitar Competition on Saturday, 11-7-15 in the Advanced division. There were several really fantastic players in each division, but I was not able to stay and hear everyone's sets. Instead, I had to play my competition slot and then leave immediately for a banquet gig at UT Dallas. <br><br>Since I was unable to be present at the awards ceremony, I texted a friend to find out the results. It was a bit of a shock to hear that I had won first prize! I have an appointment Monday afternoon with the competition director to pick up my judges comments and the prizes. I'll probably post an update when I know what my winnings are!<br><br>The competition winners were as follows:<br> <p>High School Division<br>1st Prize: Ulysses de Leon<br>2nd Prize: Catarina Miranda<br>3rd Prize: Mark Citzman<br>Honorable Mention: Jiaxin Zhang</p>
<p>Intermediate Division:<br>1st Prize: Thomas Vanderzyde<br>2nd Prize: Fadi Khoury<br>3rd Prize: Taylor Benavides</p>
<p>Advanced Division:<br>1st Prize: Jacob Johnson<br>2nd Prize: Randall Groves<br>3rd Prize: Jim Vincent<br><br>Congratulations to you all! I'd also like to say that the entire field of competitors should be very proud of their hard work and beautiful music. I would not have wished to be on the judge's panel!</p>Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/37638522015-07-02T15:44:13-05:002017-01-12T19:40:43-06:00M.A.D.E. at Stage West Theatre <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/b7b451a77fc936ffb8e9328fc151ddc48f68a2db/original/music-made-2015.jpg?1435869704" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>I will be playing at the M.A.D.E. event at Stage West Theatre in Fort Worth! Come out and enjoy some great music, art, food, and drink. I will be on the Main Stage, so stop by and say hello!Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/36914342015-05-04T12:56:08-05:002020-09-03T01:26:20-05:00Mountain View College Guitar CompetitionThis weekend was the very first Mountain View College Guitar Festival and Competition. The festival had a youth guitar orchestra and four competitive categories; Youth under 15, Youth under 18, Early College (freshman and sophomores), and Professional. I competed Friday in the Professional category, and I was one of 4 guitarists advanced to the Saturday final round in that category. I was able to borrow a 2007 Steve Connor guitar for the festival and competition. (Keep your ears open for some recordings of this guitar over the next few days)<br><br> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/45e8657369673668a47f09ce677d35e47ddcf768/medium/connor-top.jpg?1430761685" class="size_m justify_none border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/358365e473a7f4596e2bd697d315c1c301310011/medium/connor-port.jpg?1430761679" class="size_m justify_none border_" /><br><br><br>After my prelim performance, I was not convinced I would be going on; I had not had an opportunity to hear the other competitors' programs, and I felt that I could have given a better performance. Friday evening I had a very good masterclass with the fantastic guitarist and good friend of mine, Stephen Lochbaum, on a set of variations by J. K. Mertz. We made a lot of progress on it together. At the masterclass, our field of finalists was announced, and I was very pleasantly surprised to be selected. <br><br>Saturday for the finals I played the renaissance lute piece 'A Scots Tune', a Prelude and Sarabande for baroque lute by S. L. Weiss, and the first and last movements of John Duarte's Musikones. The hall was very large but lively, and it was a pleasure to play. The instrument sounded really good in the larger hall. Between the extremely high quality of the instrument it and the atmosphere of the hall, I felt an intense inspiration that helped to make my interpretations more impassioned. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/0c4b0f5c08044edfd267047e073229071bb36a6c/large/mvc-stage.jpg?1430761718" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>Following the final round, we were treated to an incredible concert by this year's guest artist Stephen Lochbaum. It was one of the best recitals I've heard.<br><br>At the awards ceremony, I was awarded 2nd prize.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/ac222dcbfb36071d01613e144622d1dba7bd1324/original/mvc-certificate.jpg?1430761704" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>Several other friends of mine were also competitors, and I'd like to say a great big congratulations to all of them: <br><br><strong>Professional Division</strong><br><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">First Prize: Julian Chalon</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Third Prize: Sebastian Ruzycki<br>Fourth Prize: Marcos Salazar</span><br><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Young College Division</b><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Second Prize: Jonno Garver</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Third Prize: April Montez Seals</span><br><br> Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/35839002015-03-08T08:57:20-05:002017-01-12T19:40:43-06:00UTD Competition Update #2The semifinal round was held on Friday morning, and the finals round was an open concert on Friday evening. Before the finals round, the competitors met for dinner. It was nice to be in the company of such amazing musicians! <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/5eacb258283a0af60f4c0c9561e585acf882a60d/original/utd-competitor-dinner.jpg?1425820761" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>After dinner, we made our way to the Clark Center for the finals and a special preconcert performance by the Radiant Ensemble, a community guitar ensemble I work with. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/99a5525481a8648484ee387d9ca6dbecdb4bb68a/original/2015-utd-radiant-concert-2.jpg?1425820755" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>Throughout the festival, my good friend Aaron Ringo of <a contents="Wood Ring Guitars" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.woodringguitars.com/" target="_blank">Wood Ring Guitars</a> had his fine handmade instruments on display. I met Aaron when I first started my guitar studies. He's a talented player and an incredible luthier. He's definitely a name to watch in guitar building. I'm hoping to buy one of his doubletop concert guitars in the near future.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/92079b21e0bb8dfcdc4a1f14709fb11f44454445/original/2015-utd-festival-aaron-and-me.jpg?1425820754" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>On Saturday morning, I had the honor of playing a lute masterclass with Michael Craddock. We worked on some John Dowland, and he gave me a lot of suggestions to improve my playing. This was the first time I have ever seen two renaissance lutes in the same room!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/f7259a243cc8e7d2aa377e5ddf2d9cbbca8e93f7/original/michael-craddock-lute-class.jpg?1425820764" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>I'm also very proud as a teacher. I've worked hard to give my students the kinds of opportunities that are unfortunately very rare for pre-collegiate guitarists. One of my students competed in the Youth Division I Competition. I was allowed to go in and listen when he competed. He played very well! This was his second year competing, and he took on a challenging program of John Dowland and J. K. Mertz. He rose to that challenge and did a wonderful job of capturing the contrasting styles. In just a few years, he'll be a seasoned pro! <br><br><br><br> Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/35803052015-03-06T12:43:05-06:002020-06-09T16:19:33-05:00UTD Competition UpdateWell, the 14th Annual Texas Guitar Festival and Competition is now under way, and there is so much cool stuff going on! After a delay due to icy weather, I personally kicked off the semifinal round of the international concert artist competition this morning. I am proud of the performance that I gave, and the hard work and improvement that it represents. I have come so far since my competitive debut at this same festival one year ago.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/e4e6b4f5577837c90c26025e68941d5570362f29/original/2015-utd-badge.jpg?1425667116" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>Last night, Xuefei Yang held a masterclass in the conference center of the hotel in which most of the competitors are staying. We worked on the Prelude from the suite in E major BWV 1006a by J. S. Bach. It was an honor to have the opportunity to play for Xuefei again; the first time I played for her was nearly 3 years ago. Here's a picture from our class last night: <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/f61178adf49225772c7f3b445a4d00ea4af81f2a/original/xuefei-masterclass.jpg?1425667003" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>Later today, I will be playing in masterclass for Fabio Montomoli. This evening is the finals concert. Four guitarists will be selected to perform in the final round. I will update you as I get more information!Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessonstag:johnsonguitarstudio.com,2005:Post/34342122014-12-24T06:11:34-06:002020-06-28T18:40:32-05:00What IS that thing?! / Why the lute?I first saw and heard a lute in person at an intimate concert at the University of Texas at Dallas in 2007, if I recall correctly. I had just begun studying classical guitar, and my professor had given me some renaissance music to learn. I was excited by these pieces because they were full of magic: they clearly sound ancient, but the music is so inventive and at times chromatic that it still carries with it a profound sense of newness. When I came back for my next lesson, already bitten by the early music bug, my professor gave me a free ticket to Hopkinson Smith's concert and told me that he was the very best "do-not-miss" lutenist in the world. She was right. It was absolutely amazing, and drove my interest in early music even further. She loaned me a boxed set of Paul O'Dette's complete John Dowland, and I was hooked. However, I continued happily playing these pieces on my guitar until I began to study the works of Weiss and the Bach "Lute Suites". I had always looked to the lutenists and the history in order to help me arrive at my interpretation of a piece on the guitar, so I looked at the original manuscripts bearing Bach's own signature and several well regarded guitar transcriptions side by side. I couldn't help but feel that many if not all of the pieces had been bruised severely in being forced onto the guitar. I began to feel that if I wanted to hear these pieces as I would like to hear them, the only option was to try my hands at playing the music on historical instruments using historical techniques. <br><br>With that said, some of my favorite music is very modern, and clearly requires a guitar. I have not lost any love for the guitar, but have come to the opinion that the best instrument on which to play the lute repertoire is, in fact, the lute. <br><br>Since I began including the <a contents="renaissance lute" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/749240/frogg-galliard-p23a-folger-ms" target="_blank">renaissance lute</a> in my performances this past October, it has not been uncommon for me to encounter people who have never heard or even seen a lute before. In fact, at most events I am approached by at least a dozen people, each with a small list of questions. Musicians often have questions of a more specific nature. It's something I enjoy almost as much as I enjoy the musicmaking itself. This post will address some of the most commonly asked questions regarding my lute, hopefully without getting too terribly technical. <br><br>The lute is not a single instrument, but is rather a large family of instruments descended from the middle eastern Oud. Lutes became intensely popular in Europe from about the 15th century to the 18th century. At some points, nearly every household was in possession of at least one lute. Since the guitar as we know it is a fairly modern invention and an evolution of lute-family instruments, much of the standard classical guitar repertoire from the 15th to nearly the 19th century comes to us from the lute or other lute-like instruments. Unfortunately, not all lute music is playable on all lutes, or on guitars for that matter. As a result, much of this wonderful repertoire is yet unheard by modern ears. Although there are many different kinds of lutes, there are some common features: a teardrop or almond shaped top, a bowl-shaped back made of several staves of wood, a wide and sometimes slightly curved fretboard, friction pegs, pairs (courses) of strings, movable frets, and finally the intricately carved rose that served not only as a soundhole, but as a mark of the maker's mastery. <br><br>I will not attempt to present all of the various members of the lute family, as they are far too numerous and since there are a great many lute-family instruments that we still do not know much about. The simplest way to think of the lute family is in 3 main periods of evolution: medieval, renaissance, and baroque. Within these periods there was a reasonable amount of variation, but that is for another time. <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large">The Medieval Lute</span></strong></div><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/563638dccc35f32a78c53fb2e7f8d11138c8cd0d/original/medieval-lute.jpg?1419424020" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>In the Medieval period, the lute usually had 4 or 5 courses of strings, and was played with a pick made of a quill in much the same way that the majority of acoustic guitarists play today; the lute was used to accompany the voice or a melody instrument like the recorder with strummed chords. Later, some "clever German players" realized that by dropping the pick and playing with the fingertips, much more complex music was possible. <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large">The Renaissance Lute</span></strong></div><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/b60276180475f7a7ab32e1799c712b66339fd7be/original/renaissance-lute-mel-wong.jpg?1419424102" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>In the Renaissance, the lute picked up a course of strings, bringing the total to 6 courses. Although the renaissance lute was usually tuned in G, we will use an hypothetical lute in E for the guitarist's convenience. The Renaissance 6-course lute would have been tuned (low to high) E A D F# B E, which is identical to the modern guitar save that the third string must be tuned down by one half-step. Toward the end of the Renaissance, bass courses were added one at a time in order to extend the low end of the instrument. After nearly 200 years of the lute having 6-courses, 7-, 8-, 9-, and 10-course instruments popped up within a relatively quick succession.<br> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large">The Baroque Lute</span></strong></div><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/157266/0b7f808805a1704e2c29d5337ad49750d95f4f30/original/mel-wong-baroque-lute-front.jpg?1419424194" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>In the Baroque, the lute's tuning changed radically, and more courses were added again, usually simply by building onto old renaissance instruments that were designed as 6-10 course lutes. Baroque lutes are commonly 11- and 13-course instruments. These are the lutes that would have been contemporary in Bach's time, and indeed his friend <a contents="Sylvius Leopold Weiss" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W71_a_BzaFs" target="_blank">Sylvius Leopold Weiss</a> would have played on both. The first six courses were tuned to a D minor chord, and the bass courses were tuned to the scale of the piece to be performed. A 13-course baroque lute would be tuned (low to high) A B C D E F G A D F A D F. This tuning is NOT like the modern guitar at all, although the tuning of <a contents="Koyunbaba&nbsp;by Carlo Domeniconi" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5xd8ONptI&" target="_blank"><em>Koyunbaba </em>by Carlo Domeniconi</a> bears a striking resemblance to the first 6 courses of the Baroque lute. <br><br>The renaissance lute will be featured alongside the guitar on my upcoming CD, <em>Prima Materia.</em><br><br><br>*all photos by Mel Wong at <a contents="www.blackbirdstringarts.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.blackbirdstringarts.com" target="_blank">www.blackbirdstringarts.com</a>*Jacob Johnson- Dallas Area Guitarist and Lutenist available for Special Events and Lessons