Welcome to The Lute Society's website
- President: David Van Edwards
- Chair: Nick Gravestock
- Secretary: Christopher Goodwin
- Registered Charity No. 1178599
News
Lute events in the New Year: 17th-20th January, Benslow lute song course benslowmusic.org/?PageID=3169; 29th January Yorkshire plucked strings workshop with Matthew Spring, in Horsforth, organised by North East Early Music Forum and 24th or 25th to 27th March, our spring Lutefest, at Benslow Music Trust; three-night option or two night option
Issue 139 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.
A short essay on using your phone to translate Lute News and to follow QR codes, by Chris Goodwin: Lute news and QR codes
Beginners lesson - 44 - Lute tuning, by Lynda Sayce
Sonatas for extended neck baroque guitar, by Ludovico Fontanelli edited by Peter Elliot - see free downloads
Tree Editions now available as free downloads on this website - an amazing free lute library, bequeathed by Albert Reyerman. Also added to the main menu for the website - see Tree Edition Files.
Recent updates to our members compositions page. Fantasia after Mudarra by Michel Amoric; Canary from Purcell's Indian Queen and two folk tunes by Andrew Haxell; Blancrocher XXI by Michel Amoric; Tombeau for Stephen Barber by David van Ooijen; La Rivercada by Joaquim Bogunyà Chesa; Songs in Divers Humours, for medium voice and lute (tablature), by David Protheroe.
Play along with professional musicians Our lute backing tracks page has a number of songs and duets, where you provide the missing lute part, to accompany renowned musicians such as Emma Kirkby and Dowland Works performing Golden Age songs, and duets with Lynda Sayce. Download the sheet music on the same page.
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.
For previous news items, see Old news
Recent pages on this website
- Lute Iconography Database - over 2200 images of lutes catalogued in a searchable online database.
- 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 - recent updates by David Protheroe, Steven Watson, Laudon Schuett and others.
New Music Editions
See our catalogue for details and to purchase online:
- 158 early Cinquecento preludes and recercars - a bumper collection of early Italian lute music, all standards, beginner to advanced
- Compendium of 178 Polish dances - another bumper edition!
- Fun merchandise! Lute-playing mouse paperweight
Listings and services
As well as our online shop where you can purchase our publications, our website contains a number of listings of lutes for sale, makers, teachers, publishers, summer schools and other links.
Contact the secretary
The Secretary, Christopher Goodwin
53 Mill Road,
Sharnbrook,
Bedfordshire, MK44 1NP
United Kingdom
Tel: (+44/0)1483 202159 / (++44/0)7510 254106
or if your email bounces back from this, try
Donations
The Lute Society’s finances are ticking over nicely with the present membership fees and it is breaking even in a safe and steady manner. But we would like to be able to fund occasional additional activities without having to raise the general membership fees to a level which would put off some from joining. If you feel able to help in this way, it will be greatly appreciated.
There will be an opportunity for UK tax payers to gift aid their donation after they click the donate button.
Donating with this button will enable you to add an amount of your choice to our general fund.
Donating with this button will enable you to add an amount of your choice to our Student Bursary Fund which will enable us to fund deserving students for places on short term music courses such as Benslow.