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Galileo’s father, a lutenist, took part in heated debates with fellow-musicians and argued through experiments, like hanging weights from lute strings to test their tension.—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 July 2025 French lutenist Thomas Dunford will play everything from Renaissance music to Erik Satie March 21.—Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024 Conductor and lutenist Stephen Stubbs will be collaborating with Bach Collegium San Diego.—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2024 At times, songs would be published with a bass line, allowing the lutenist to add harmonies and style that pointed to the song’s words.—Sheryl Devore, chicagotribune.com, 27 Oct. 2021 If a lutenist happened to be on the Mayflower, as has been presumed on a new recording, the journey would have included luminous lute dances — pavanes, galliards and alemandes — by England’s greatest living and gloomiest composer, John Dowland.—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2020 The idea behind this recital from a noted countertenor and a lutenist is simple: Shakespeare’s words, set to music, interspersed with readings from the playwright, given by the actor Simon Jones.—David Allen, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2018
Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin lutanista, from lutana lute, probably from Middle French lut lute
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