Eric Liefeld   Sat, 08 Jan 2000 12:53:25 -0700
------------

How fun!

I am 37 year old (can that be?) former systems engineer...
currently self-employed as a writer and trainer in the high-tech
industry... no wait... that's what I *do*...

In earlier life I was a violinist and mandolinist... after a 15-year
break I'm finally realizing how important music is to me.  In the
last couple years I've picked my instruments up again and I'm
having the time of my life!  One my main interests is early mandolins...

both 18th century Neopolitan wire-strung, plectrum-played
instruments and earlier 17th and 18th century "mandolas" or
mandolinos (tiny gut-strung things played mostly finger-style).

I've loved the lute since I saw one played as a young person.
This year has been the fulfillment of a life-long dream... I went
to LSA in Vancouver... and a number of instruments have
found their way into my life.  My new Larry Brown 8c
Rennaisance lute just  arrived a couple of days ago... joining a
Rennaisance guitar and a (currently decapitated) archlute... I'm
learning French and Italian tab simultaneously, and trying to work
my way through Nigel North's continuo book ... and reveling
in hacking my way through Spinacino, Dalza, Mudara, etc... I'm
kinda off the deep end just now.

It has been wonderful picking up new instruments late in life.  I
find that I am listening better when I play as a result of playing
the lute... I've been amazed at what lute-playing has done for
my violin playing.

Eric