New life for the lute

When people talk about Celtic culture and specifically music, certain instruments come to mind. There are the bagpipes, of course, and also flutes and drums. But Lochiel resident John Downing says one instrument has been largely overlooked: The lute.

This pear-shaped ancestor of the guitar was once the most popular string instrument in Europe.
Today it is played by classical musicians and a select group of hobbyists who are looking to revive its calming sound, whether it is for Renaissance fairs, museums or in public performance. 

Downing is a former engineer who now builds lutes in a home workshop.

He was recognized by the Glengarry Pioneer Museum at a soirée held April 24 after presenting an exhibit on the history of the guitar in Canada.

Over the past few years, Downing has immersed himself in various crafts of the pioneer era of Upper Canada including tin creations.

Last year he created an extensive exhibit on the broad axe and its contribution to Glengarry's developing lumber industry in the 19th century.

Two years ago Downing completely restored the museum's 1868 melodeon, which is a musical instrument similar to an accordion. 
He has also welcomed visitors of the museum with a recital and talk on the lute in Scotland.

"A lot people don't realize that the lute was very important in early Scottish music. There are bagpipes, but there is also much more than that," he said.

While he has built a harp, antique-style guitars and a replica of a 13th-century Ude in the past, his passion these days is researching and building a repertoire of 16th and 17th century lutes.

Home workshop
Downing said it can take more than 100 hours of work for the raw wood to be changed into a lute body.

He first begins by looking at paintings from the era and then drawing a blueprint. 
Since there are few instruments left today - and painters can depict lutes inaccurately, for example getting the proportions wrong to suit their picture - much is left to the imagination. 
"You have to guess at how the instruments were constructed," he said, adding that some museums do share images and drawings with lute builders.

Downing said he uses black ash wood, spruce or pine, and the wood is often cut to a thickness of about one and a half millimeters for the body. 
He uses many traditional tools during the construction including animal-based glues similar to those used during the Renaissance.

"I use animal glue, hot hide glue, which is superior to any modern glue for making instruments. It doesn't yield under stress and it's also very hard so it transmits sound very nicely," he said.

Whereas lutes would have used gut strings, however, Downing uses nylon strings which are commonly available.

He said his instruments are not meant to be museum pieces, but instead are meant to be played and enjoyed - so long as one is careful.

"I got an interest in this field many years ago when I started playing classical guitar. In the early years, many of the pieces for classical guitar were transcriptions of pieces that were originally performed on the lute. But to recreate that sound, you need an instrument that was built for that music," he said.

Downing said he is glad to build the instruments at his own pace, and said it is rewarding to share his work with the museum. (No instruments will be featured during the summer, but they are due to be exhibited again next year.)

"At one time I was tempted to move into making lutes and guitars professionally. Fortunately I stayed with engineering. I decided to pursue this as a hobby and so I don't get tired of it. This is my own search, my own interest. A professional lute maker wouldn't have time to do the research and their work would be influenced by what the market was buying. I don't have that problem," he said.