lute

The lute is a plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep, pear-shaped body. It has a flat soundboard and a rounded back formed from bent wooden ribs. Strings are arranged in courses, with Renaissance lutes typically having six courses (twelve strings) and Baroque lutes adding more courses for extended range. Specialized forms such as the theorbo and archlute feature extended bass sections.

Origins and history: Lute-like instruments appear in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean. The European lute developed during the medieval period and reached prominence in the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. It played a central role in courtly and chamber music and in lute songs, where a vocal line is accompanied by the instrument. By the late 18th century, the lute declined in popularity, but it was revived in the 19th and 20th centuries by the early music movement.

Construction and tuning: The body is made from joined ribs forming a bowl, with a separate soundboard, usually spruce. The neck carries a fretted fingerboard, and a pegbox houses tuning pegs or machines. Tuning varies by instrument and period. The theorbo and archlute extend the range with additional bass strings.

Playing and repertoire: The right hand plucks the strings with fingertips or nails, while the left hand frets to change pitch. Lute music spans late medieval to Baroque repertoire, including polyphonic instrumental works, lute dances, and vocal pieces such as lute songs. Notable composers include John Dowland and Sylvius Leopold Weiss.

Modern use: Lutes are built by specialized luthiers and performed in early-music ensembles and educational settings. They are studied for historical performance practice and appear in contemporary compositions seeking period timbre.