The Lute Society, now over 60 years old, exists to promote the lute and its music. Members get a new member's pack of 100 pages of lute music, a quarterly magazine, Lute News, with music supplement, an annual journal, The Lute, discounts on our growing range of publications and other benefits. Even if you can't make it to our meetings, playing days, and residential weekends in Britain, joining is an excellent way of building up your music library, and keeping in touch with other lute players, and with news in the lute world.
Issue 105 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover - and the ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.
Registration for the Dowland 450th anniversary weekend, 4-5 May, is now open at cantastorie05.com/DowlandConference/Closing date 1st May!!! Additionally, you will find the schedule and abstracts so you know what you are paying for! The programme includes concerts from Nigel North, Emma Kirkby & Jakob Lindberg, Paul O’Dette and the Rose consort of viols. The registration page includes a downloadable PDF form for those who prefer to pay by cheque.
Sunday 12 May, Hungarian Lute Afternoon, at the home of Stephen and Jane Gottlieb, in East Finchley, London. Have a go on a koboz! (short-necked Hungarian lute) it’s fun and not too hard. The wonderful duo, virtuoso Géza Fábri with singer Tünde Ivánovics make a welcome return to teach, from 1-3pm, followed by a house concert in Hampstead, to which we will proceed together. Geza will bring some extra kobozes, and there may be the chance to buy one at the end of the afternoon. Contact and to book a place. Further details of their performances and events are on their tour poster.
Saturday 15 June, Playing Day at the home of David Protheroe, in Farnham, Surrey, contact . Stewart McCoy will lead, all abilities welcome, playing 10.30-ish till 6.30, informal playing and singing thereafter, bring as many lutes and other early plucked instruments as you can (bass or other unusual-sized lutes especially), a music stand, and food and drink contributions to a buffet lunch, pitch: A=440, cost: £20 payable on the day. The house is five minutes walk from Farnham station, and street parking is free.
Saturday 29 June, Lute Society Summer Party Members are warmly invited to the Lute Society Summer Party, at the home of John and Joyce Reeve in Maidenhead, Berkshire, from 6.30 pm, with music from 7.00, from Peter Martin and other artists tba, food and drink kindly supplied by the hosts. RSVP if you’d like to come
Some photos from lutefest 2013 at Benslow are now uploaded - see Photo Gallery Events
Looking for a lute player, accompanist, duet partner, or beginner's 'buddy'? We can help you find a lute player in your area, or for your special event (wedding, banquet, advert etc). We are also starting up a lute buddying scheme to put new players in touch with lute buddies in their area.
Back issues of Lute News now available for purchase online. Now you can fill in any missing copies in your collection.
New pieces on our members' compositions pages - by David Braid, Matthew Leigh Embleton and Joaquim Boguñà Chesa.
Photos of recent Lute Society meetings and events by Pam and Graham Hope - photo gallery - meetings and photo gallery - events. Also updated with gallery of many older photos from our archive going back to 2003.
Update to our free baroque lute tabulature download page: Intabulations of Lully by Mouton, for 11 Course Baroque Lute.
