Which instrument is 4000 years old and is still played today?
It has been found in Egyptian graves; kings had it played to put them to sleep; Shakespeare praised it; Schubert sang about it; but it had its place in everyday life, too: in barber shops it hung on the wall, waiting to help the customers pass the time.
We’re talking about the lute. The name comes from the Arabic al-‘ud “the wood” and has nothing to  do with the German word “laut” for loud. The lutist Andreas Düker from Göttingen will explain how the instrument got its name and demonstrate the types of sounds it can make. Along with examples of music from the Lute Book composed by Elisabeth of Hesse-Kassel he will play pieces from Italy, France, and England. And he will show us a bass lute so huge you can only tune it if you are standing beside it.

Andreas Düker: Lutes

Entrance fee: 7 Euros / children and juveniles free