If anyone has the time, please listen to Yes - Wonderous Stories, and tell me if this is just Steve Howe / Trevor Rabin's lute solo I'm hearing 2/3 though, or if the keyboardist (Wakeman) is playing in sync as well. It's a very subtle part - not quite as simple as it seems at first, and I just get the feeling it's more than a lute solo.

PS - 7-strings on a lute?

The first solo is Rick Wakeman on some kind of harpsichord, the second (around 2:10) is guitarist Steve Howe playing a "vachalia" with Rick Wakeman playing synthesizer in sync. There's no lute mentioned in the liner notes for the song's instrumental credits:

 

Wonderous Stories [written by] Anderson

Jon Anderson - Vocals

Steve Howe - Vachalia, electric guitar and vocals

Chirs Squire - Bass guitar and vocals

Rick Wakeman - Polymoog

Alan White - Drums and percussion

 

...But according to Wikipedia, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_for_the_One) Howe actually plays a Portugese 12-string that was "incorrectly listed as a vachalia at the time."

 

As for Trevor Rabin, he was not a member of the band when they recorded this song; he joined in 1983 for 90125.

 

PS - I think different lutes can have different numbers of strings and still be called lutes.

 

And what did you mean by "Clocks origin" in the thread title? Do you mean the piano riff from the Coldplay song?

Strange, but the video I saw showed Steve Howe switch instruments midway; from what appeared to be a lute, to a guitar.. Perhaps my instrument identification needs some clarification?

Yes, the piano part, a series of riffs. ..

I just wanted to provide this link to a very nice YouTube recording and album cover art slideshow of the song, where the part can be heard:[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnbsjtOo1Rg&feature=related]YouTube - YES "Wonderous Stories"[/ame]

Here's the Lute:[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7yWazWT-3o&feature=PlayList&p=1792E50C55DED012&index=0&playnext=1]YouTube - yes - (your move) I've seen all good people[/ame]

You tell me who's playing!:)