Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck (either fretted or unfretted) and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes.
The European lute descended from the Arabic oud, the word "lute" comes from the Arabic "al'ud", meaning "the wood". Two narratives, not necessarily mutually exclusive, are given for the oud's entry into Europe: one, that the instrument was brought into t...
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Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck (either fretted or unfretted) and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes.
The European lute descended from the Arabic oud, the word "lute" comes from the Arabic "al'ud", meaning "the wood". Two narratives, not necessarily mutually exclusive, are given for the oud's entry into Europe: one, that the instrument was brought into the Iberian peninsula as a result of the invasions by the "Moors" in 710-711CE, is well established, and the other, that it was brought back to Europe by returning crusaders, might simply be folklore.
The lute is used in a great variety of instrumental music from the early renaissance to the late baroque eras. It is also an accompanying instrument, especially in vocal works, often realizing a basso continuo or playing a written-out accompaniment.
The player of a lute is called a lutenist, lutanist, or lutist, and a maker of lutes (or any string...
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