resources for composers and performers
Here you'll find links, articles and suggestions to inspire you, help you, and get you on your way to listening to, writing or performing new music for theorbo!
The web-site of renowned theorbo player Lynda Sayce is a great resource for all things to do with the theorbo! There's a great page for composers on it, with clear advice.
Elizabeth Kenny is another great theorbo player, a professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London as well as freelance performer and teacher. She encourages and is involved in contemporary works. Here's her video introducing the instrument
and here's her beautiful CD of contemporary and historical works for theorbo
A useful aid when composing for the theorbo is knowing where notes are on the strings, and to be able to picture finger positions. Here are two different images of the fretboard
Philomel is a professional vocal ensemble exploring newly written commissions alongside 17th century vocal repertoire, with a focus on female composers and female historical performance practice
Lute societies, which encompass the theorbo and related instruments, are often very active, for example hosting lists of performers, teachers and instrument/music shops; they can be a great resource for repertoire, contacts, questions and for live events.
Here's a document written by Janet Oates outlining some basic things to consider when writing for the voice
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.