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So, who wrote good 8-string repertoire?

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Legnani  and Mertz perhaps

Where the 8 string guitar really excels is that not only does the extra bass strings fill in some of the harmonic resonances that are missing with six strings (an idea taken to near perfection [arguably] by N. Yepes and his 10 string tuning), it also all but eliminates retuning of the 6th string for performance purposes. Generally the tuning is 7th D and 8th C but can be whatever is needed.  So any piece intended for 6 string guitar with a dropped or raised (for example..possibly Sors Op. 10, 6th to F) 6th string is fair game.

Some mainstream composers that utilized the extra one or two strings were Mertz (10 strings too but are accessible on 8), Coste, Legnani (specifically Op. 201, 202, 203 are quality pieces) and Carulli (although he supposedly wrote for the 10 string, I’ve been told that these pieces work well on 8 string. I cannot confirm as I’ve not seen these works...anyone have them? I’d love to see).  

Many of the composers like Dubez, Makaroff,  Pettoletti and Bayer (up to 10 strings) have pieces that work well on 8 strings. And of course there is the massive and largely unexplored Russian 7 string repertoire including the works of Alexandroff, Sarenko and many others. Although the tuning of the Russian 7 string guitar is slightly different (the Russian guitar is tuned in 3rds) the music is still very accessible with a little judicial editing. Modern editions of some of the Russian guitar repertoire is available from Ophee Editions but there’s also a significant amount of originals online in the Boije Collection. It’s worth an afternoon looking through because there is some high quality stuff there.

Nicolas Pavlistcheff (for 10 string I believe) from the Rischel Birket Smith collection.

What is the  Rischel Birket Smith collection? Is it online?

Its only one of the biggest collection in nothern eurpe with 19th century guitar music. And its in Denmark. pretty nice

Well, I know Mertz and Legnani, Makaroff I've heard of but not heard his music, and the others are to be explored. Eight-string guitars intrigue me. I love the separation of the two bass strings away from the fretboard, leaving a six-string guitar in place. I was disappointed at Carulli's Decacorde tutor - all those extra strings, but little use of them, and hard work stopping notes ringing on, overtones, etc. Eight strings seems a better option, to me, but being a baroque lute player I know the advantages and disadvantages of more or fewer courses. I do love to hear David Russell play Mertz, although it sounds like he is playing the equivalent of a Steinway Grand. Has anyone done a 'no-nails, gut-strung' approach to Mertz's and Legnani's extended-strings pieces? I hear a lot of people playing 'authentic' 19th-century guitars, but often with nylon or nylgut strings played with nails. I know that Aguado used his nails, and others too, but it's not my favoured sound.

totally agree with Rob regarding the nail sound. I have once tried a 8 stringed Ries guitar made by B. Kresse. I got very confused looking down at my right hand. All those strings. But thats just something that one gets used to. Some day after getting a baroque guitar I've got to have a 8 stringed. Perhaps a Staufer. Kresee makes both Stauafer and Ries. Check out his website

One cure for the panic at seeing eight strings for the right hand would be to play a 13c baroque lute for several months or years. Eight single strings will then seem like playing a ukulele!

:-)

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