Michael Graham  Wed, 12 Jan 2000 17:40:10 +1100
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I am Michael Graham age 35 living in Tasmania (an island, the smallest state
of Australia).

I recently celebrated 10 glorious year of marriage to Bethany Cai who is
also an early music fanatic and possible more so although she plays no
instrument as yet (Hurdy Gurdy plans). We both collected early music
separately for some time before we were married. We now have somewhere in
the order of 600 Early music CDs, probably 60-70 Lute CDs I guess.

I work for the state electricity utility as a programmer/consultant (*yet
another one)*, currently doing Microsoft Active Server Pages Web programming
etc. My first interest in the lute was caused by a record  (I now have the
CD) of Julian Bream's "The woods so Wild" and later by Paul O'Dette playing
Dowland and one of Julian playing Milan and Narvayez. I started playing
Classical guitar, badly I think when I was about 12 but didn't dedicate
myself to it very much and gave up.

In later ideas I toyed with the idea on getting on of the Early-Music-Shop
kits, but was a little apprehensive and never persued it. On day about three
years ago I just about fell over myself when I saw a lute in a music shop. I
recognised what it was from pictures on CD covers. I payed $1200 for it an
THEN looked for someone who knew something about the lute. It turned out to
be a dud of course, primarily because of a too-high action and boat anchor
construction. Anyway it was returned to the shop for a refund, but by that
stage the idea that I could really own a lute was fixed in my mind.

After about 50 phone calls I tracked down Charles Moller (Sydney) who had
one of his older 7 course lute for sale for $1800. It is a wonderful
instrument, light and bright. I use it to play the Music of Luis Milan and
some Narvayez, Mudarra, Milan, Dowland and Scottish Lute. I guess I am not
that bad at playing them, but don't plan to EVER do performances.
  
Even though my lute is perfectly made, my fingers are just a little too big
for the seven courses so I followed the suggestion of un-even spacing made
by Miles Dempster I think. While not perfect for all music, it is a good
playable compromise if I want to keep 7 courses. When I get a lute with more
courses custom build, I will probably convert my first lute to a 6 course.

I have a great music coach, John Lockwood,  who is a Guitar, Keyboard and
Composition teacher of the finest quality.

I am now waiting on a baby Archlute - a Luito Attiorbato after Christofolo
Choc (Spelling?) on which I will play all sorts. Zamboni, Kapsberger, Bach,
Weiss perhaps, Picinini. Love all that stuff. The a certain extent it was
intended as a one size fits all lut ethat would allow me to play many
things. I will probably use it to play a lot of music which is illegal for a
lute of so many courses, but since I only play the instrument for personal
pleasure, what the hey.

But then there is that wonderful Scottish 10 course bass lute or a Vihuela
or a Mandour, or a D-Minor lute...blah blah blah...

My absolute absolute favourite CD of all times is the Luciano Contini
recording of Zamboni. Other favourites include Jose Miguel Moreno, Hoppy,
MacFarlane, O'Dette, Lindberg, Rooley.... Actually the list goes on and on.
You know an love them all I am sure

Without any exceptions (that I can think of). The lutenet mob are a great
bunch. Any of you must look me up any time you are down here.

Oh yes, some other wierd hobbies...
Tinkering with old cars (a few restoration projects under way)
Sportscars (don't own any yet),
Cooking, especially Italian.
Target shooting.
Horticulture (well pitcher plants actually)

Kindest regards

Mike Graham