The Lute Society: Old News

Old news

Previous news items are shown below. The year indicates when the item was removed from the main news page. See also agendas from previous-meetings.

2023

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. In Autumn, by David Protheroe: three duets for equal lutes; British and Irish songs arranged by Andrew Haxell; Fantasia after Mudarra, 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.

Issue 143 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

2022

Beginners lesson - 46 - Judenkünig, Das Fünfft Priame, by Lynda Sayce

Issue 142 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. 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

Issue 141 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Beginners lesson - 45 - Getting started with social music-making, by Lynda Sayce

2nd July, Summer party at the home of John and Joyce Reeve, Maidenhead, with music from Yair Avidor and Toby Carr.

Issue 140 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Beginners lesson - 44 - Lute tuning, by Lynda Sayce

2021

Issue 139 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

We held our first Lute society meeting in about 18 months - our Young Artists's showcase.

View our fourth virtual meeting free and open to all, to enjoy at your leisure, with a talk from Alex McCartney on the toccata, and a Kapsberger recital, highlights of Ryosuke Sakamoto's 2021 Il Divino challenge, a recital from Stathis Skandalidis, and an illustrated talk from Din Ghani and Musicke in the Ayre on the role of Fleet Street in the story of English lute song All the videos to date on our can be seen on our Youtube channel and links to previous virtual meetings are at meetings.

Issue 138 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Annual General Meeting - The Lute Society AGM was held on Saturday 8th May, via Zoom. Minutes and agenda are available on our annual general meetings page.

Appeal for Sandi Harris As you may have heard, luthier Sandi Harris was bereaved of her life partner and workshop partner, the pioneer luthier Stephen Barber last year. You can hear more of this very moving story. She needs financial help to move to a less expensive workshop, and get back on her feet; for details see this funding page There is a tombeau for Stephen Barber by David Ooijen linked from members compositions.

The pandemic lockdown is, we hope, gradually coming to an end, but for the time being we are still putting helpful imformation on our lute in lockdown resources and lute in lockdown calendar pages.

Beginners' lesson - 43 - Fantasia (no from '114 Early to Intermediate Pieces') - lesson by Lynda Sayce

Issue 137 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Beginners' lesson - 42 - Weiss Menuet (piece no.32 in the society’s ‘A Diverse Collection of Easy Pieces for Baroque Lute’) - lesson by Lynda Sayce.

Brian Wright's Tombeau for Julian Bream has been recorded by Bernhard Hofstoetter on Youtube

Update to our free downloads page: Sweet was the sounge the Veregin sange, Anon. Arranged by Wifred Foxe. The Flute and the Lute Vol. 2 - English music from the Golden Age, arranged by Joaquim Bogunyà Chesa. Also Les Folies d'Espagne for Theorbo, by Robert de Visée (original is from Falconet MS which is not in very readable condition). Typseset by Wilfred Foxe.

The Lute in Lockdown - during our times of lockdown and social distancing, musicians are hosting online events and videos to reach their audience. We are maintaining a calendar of upcoming online events, and a set of resources for musicians and support. Feel free to send us links to online lute events, and please support musicians by buying tickets where you can. And why not improve your playing and support a professional player at the same time by treating yourself to an online lute lesson? There's a list of teachers who give lessons by Zoom or Skype at the head of our register of teachers.

An online Benslow Lutefest: in lieu of annual spring residential lute jamboree in Hertfordshire, there were three livestreamed concerts to enjoy from the tutors:

  • ‘Sweet, stay awhile’ - Music by John Dowland and John Danyel: Sara Stowe, Lewis Spring, voices, Matthew Spring, Lynda Sayce, lutes and viols, Monday 19th April at 20.00 BST benslowmusic.org/index.asp?PageID=3100 with post concert lunchtime talk by Matthew Spring 13.00 BST on Tuesday 20 April 2021 (FREE entry).
  • Alison Crum (viols) and Roy Marks (lute), A Spagna in the works, renaissance works for lute and viol, Alison Crum and Roy Marks, Monday 26th April at 20.00 BST benslowmusic.org/index.asp?PageID=3098.
  • Lynda Sayce (lutes) Music from the Marsh lute book Thursday 29th April, 20.00 BST benslowmusic.org/index.asp?PageID=3121

Issue 136 of Lute News is now out, with nice Christmas surprise in the music supplement - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Beginners' lesson 41 Beginners' lesson - 41 - Drewries accordes - lute duet. Lesson by Lynda Sayce covering the video in Lute duet - video backing tracks

2020

Issue 135 of Lute News is now out, a special Julian Bream memorial issue - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Benslow online lute song course 21st-23rd November, with Clare Wilkinson, Michael Solomon Williams, and Jacob Heringman - see Benslow Music course page

Issue 134 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Issue 133 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Subscribe to our new Youtube Channel! at www.youtube.com/channel/UC7XUQxbXyeZUAh2r5lbj-6A. It's free of course. Many thanks to Peter Jones for setting it up of course. So far there are four very informative films about how to film yourself playing the lute and then edit and upload the film. More films of good quality will be added in due course, and we plan that this will be the forum for 'virtual meetings', with a selection of films launched together for your enjoyment.

A review and reflections of our Spring 2020 playing weekend at Benslow by Adam Dzwonnik

Beginners' lesson - 40 Courant L'Onesta (no. 63 from ‘114 Early to Intermediate Pieces for Renaissance Lute’), by Lynda Sayce.

The Lute Online Resources Portal is now live. Most websites mentioned in the last 15 years of Lute News now have links there, and some of the pages are reasonably complete. Others have only sample content - particularly the composers and sources pages - new material will be added to these each day. You are warmly invited to send in interesting links you think we have missed - let's build a Grand Universal Lute Portal!

Recent additions to our free downloads and members compositions listings:

Our online shop is now mobile friendly. Now you can even buy our publications from a tablet or mobile phone.

Updated membership map - showing the current approximate location of Lute Society members who have chosen to share their postcodes - see membership-map

Lute Iconography Database (LuteIDB) - now updated to contain over 2200 images and additional search attributes. LuteIDB is a great resource for lute makers, players, art historians, researchers, and anyone who has an interest in the iconography of the lute. See the introduction to LuteIDB for background and details of how to use the search engine. The live version is at LuteIDB online.

Japanese language page on the website of Taro Takeuchi, who offers help for prospective Japanese members tarolute.crane.gr.jp/lutesociety.html

Issue 132 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Beginners' lesson - 39 - Il Bianco Fiore, Negri (piece no.8 in the Lute Society’s '40 Easy to Early Intermediate Pieces'), by Lynda Sayce.

Updated web pages

New additions to our free downloads: 2 pieces by Adrian Banchieri, for 3 equal lutes, these are very tuneful canzonas. Also 3 pieces for 4 lutes, including madrigals and motets by Andrea Gabrieli and Pierre Passereau. Arranged by Mike Ashley

New Lute Society Music Index - Lute Society Music Index compiled by Michael Heseltine, where you can search all the music supplements of Lute News by title or author.

2019

Christmas is coming and we have lots of gifts for the lutenist in your life, plus cards and albums of Christmas music. There are gifts to suit every pocket, from our jumbo-sized lute manuscript facsimiles, of Herbert of Cherbury's lute book, or Mathew Holmes' lute book, to beginners' books, selected CDs, and lute-playing mouse paperweights; see catalogue. A membership makes a nice present, and we can send a generous welcome pack to a specified address, and the welcome PDFs and free downloads on Christmas Eve, to not spoil the surprise, see membership.

Issue 131 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

New Beginners' lesson - 38 - Gigue (piece number 4 from 'Diverse Collection of Easy Pieces for the Baroque Lute’)

Issue 130 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

New page covering small ads - lute music for sale.

Updates to our free downloads and members compositions pages - 16th century Spanish music arranged for renaissance lute and treble instrument by Joaquim Bogunya Chesa, and Sonnets and Epigrams, for voice and lute, by David Protheroe, with piano score supplement.

Recent additions to our free downloads and members compositions listings:

Beginners' lesson - 37 - Ick Claeg Venus Dieren, by Lynda Sayce.

Issue 129 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

158 early Cinquecento preludes and recercars - a bumper collection of early Italian lute music, all standards, beginner to advanced, see catalogue for details.

Beginners' lesson - 36 - Sight reading by Lynda Sayce.

Free plans available for a Four course guitar by Jesus Alonso Yllana

Lute Iconography Database - the Lute Iconography Database is a new online resource holding around 2000 images and other depictions of the lute covering over 1000 years of the history of the lute, now available for scholars, players and lute makers and anyone else interested in the history of the lute. Delve in and enjoy!

Global map of Lute Society members An exciting new development to help put members in touch with each other. Find out if there are other members near you with our interactive membership map

Beginners' lesson - 35 - Recercar d’Antonio (Piece no 28 from '158 Early Cinquecento Preludes and Ricercars for Renaissance Lute') by Lynda Sayce.

Issue 128 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

2018

Issue 127 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Beginners' lesson - 34 - Adrian le Roy Fantasie (piece no. 57 in '70 Easy to Intermediate Pieces for Renaissance Lute'), by Lynda Sayce.

Issue 126 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Beginners' lesson - 33 - Robin (piece no.10 from the Lute Society’s ‘40 Easy to Early Intermediate Pieces for Renaissance Lute’), by Lynda Sayce

Summer schools If you haven't booked your lute holiday yet, here are our summer school listings.

Update to free downloads - Psalm settings, Magnificat and Grace for voice and lute by Roy Marks.

Update to free downloads - Betrachte meine Seel from St John Passion, J S Bach, BWV 245, No 19 prepared by Wilfred Foxe. Also Aria detta La Frescobalda (Girolamo Frescobaldi) arranged by Wilfred Foxe, also in free downloads

Issue 125 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Beginners' lesson - 32 - Lady Rich Galliard (piece no.18 from the Lute Society’s ‘114 Early to Intermediate Pieces for Renaissance Lute’), by Lynda Sayce

Issue 124 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues. An enlarged version of Lutezine 123 is now available too with extra papers and reports, at the web address already supplied to subscribers.

Beginners' lesson - 31 - Branle de Village (piece no.8 in the Lute Society’s ’70 Easy to Intermediate Pieces’), by Lynda Sayce

New addition to our list of members' compositions: First book of lute lessons, plus additional fantasies, by Laudon Schuett

2017

Issue 123 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Beginners' lesson - 30 - Margraffen Dantz (piece is no.11 in '70 Easy to Intermediate Pieces'), by Lynda Sayce

Issue 122 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Issue 121 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Beginners' lesson - 29 - Will ye go walke the woode so wilde (piece no. 53 in ’58 Very Easy Pieces’), by Lynda Sayce

Saturday 3rd June, a playing day was held in Huntingdonshire

Lute Society Summer Party - generously hosted by Joyce and John Reeve was held on Saturday 24th June 2017 in Maidenhead further details and location. Guest performers were Peter Martin, Wezi Elliott and James Bramley.

Issue 120 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Members' compositions page - updated with 'Book of Dances for Solo Lute' by Joaquim Bogunya Chesa and three songs 'Epigram of Orpheus', 'Orpheus with his Lute' and 'Fragment' by David Protheroe

Beginners' lesson - 28 - Bouffons (piece number 108 in '114 Early to Intermediate Pieces'), by Lynda Sayce.

Leighton Tears - Leighton's Tears (1614) for mixed consort and/or voices, edited by Djilda Segerman, now available as a free download on our website.

2016

Issue 119 of Lute News is now out - see its colour front cover and ezine. See a gallery of previous front covers on the publications page, under Lute News back issues.

Beginners' lesson - 27 - Preludium (piece number 53 in ‘114 Early to Intermediate Pieces), by Lynda Sayce.

A specialised lute song event at Benslow with Jacob Heringman and John Potter was held at Benslow Music Trust 19th-22nd September. A brief write up of the event is given in LN 199 ezine.

Issue 118 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.

Beginners' lesson - 26 - Courante Sa Beauté extreme (piece number 13 in ‘114 Early to Intermediate Pieces) for 10c lute, by Lynda Sayce.

Issue 117 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.

Beginners' lesson - 25 - La Bassa Della Ninfe (piece number 12 from '40 Easy to Early Intermediate pieces'), by Lynda Sayce

Lute Society Summer Party - generously hosted by Joyce and John Reeve was held on Saturday 2nd Jul 2016 in Maidenhead further details and location. Guest performers were Richard Mackenzie and Mark Willcocks.

Issue 116 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.

Beginners' lesson - 24 - Spagnolleta - piece 12 from '70 Easy to Intermediate Pieces', by Lynda Sayce.

Our residential weekend Lutefest 2016 was held at Benslow Music in Hitchin, Herts, 17/18th-20th March. The tutors were Hopkinson Smith, Paula Chateauneuf, Stewart McCoy, Roy Marks, and Jeni Melia.

2015

Members compositions updated with Book of Songs by Joaquim Bogunya Chesa

Beginners' lesson - 23 - Caring for your hands, by Lynda Sayce.

A catalogue of our collection of vinyl records is now uploaded. Some items can be lent to members on request.

The Lute Society Microfilm Collection currently has 424 reels of film containing 337 unique items of music or musical theory. This has now been re-catalogued for the benefit of scholars and researchers. See microfilm catalogue for details, - now updated with following a recent generous donation of microfilms by Peter Trent.

Beginners' lesson - 22 - Larouse - piece number 13 from The Lute Society's '58 very easy pieces', by Lynda Sayce.

Holidays with your lute! See our newly updated lute summer school listings - more than 70 residential holidays for lute players.

Beginners' lessons - now with links to online sound files! Now you can find links to recordings by Jacob Heringman and David van Ooijen to accompany most of Lynda Sayce's lute lessons for beginners - hear what the pieces are meant to sound like!

Now available! Anthony Rooley and Evelyn Tubb's CD 'Orphan Wailings'; a major contribution to the contemporary lute song repertoire, on sale on our catalogue page - also some other excellent recordings, as advertised in Lute News.

Stephen Gottlieb, lute maker filmed in his workshop in 1979 for the BBC In the Making Series - video now available.

Issue 113 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.

A new addition to our members' compositions collection - a set of 3 lute songs for soprano and renaissance lute by David Braid.

Lute Society Summer Party - Lute Society Summer party, generously hosted by Joyce and John Reeve on Saturday 13th June 2015 in Maidenhead further details and location. Guest performers were Sam Brown and Toby Carr.

2014

Beginners' lesson 19 - The Owld Man part of our beginners lessons by Lynda Sayce.

Beginners' lesson 18 - Hast Du Mich Genumen, Judenkünig part of our beginners lessons by Lynda Sayce.

Some photos from lutefest 2013 at Benslow are now uploaded - see Photo Gallery Events

2013

Beginners' lesson 16 - on the often vexed question of how to tune your lute.

Issue 105 of Lute News is 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.

On Sunday 12 May, Hungarian Lute Afternoon, at the home of Stephen and Jane Gottlieb, in East Finchley, London, the wonderful duo, virtuoso Géza Fábri with singer Tünde Ivánovics made a welcome return to teach the Koboz, followed by a house concert in Hampstead. Further details of their performances and UK events are on their tour poster.

Our residential weekend - Lutefest 2013, 15-17 March 2013 at Benslow music trust, Hitchin was a great success. Some photos are uploaded to photo gallery - events.

An interview with Sting - First published in Lute News 80, December 2006.

Beginners lesson 14 - Volte Jungker Hans, by Lynda Sayce

Playing Baroque Preludes - an essay by Wilfred Foxe concerning the Prelude and Fantasy for Baroque Lute by Denis Gaultier.

2012

Beginners lesson 12 by Lynda Sayce: Il Conto dell'orco by Caroso.

A newly enlarged grading list of lute pieces at towards lute grades by Martin Eastwell - now over 300 pieces, including six or our student publications and the complete works of Francesco da Milano and Dowland. Check the list to find out what grade you would be, if there were lute grades!

A handy table of the most common lute tunings, compiled by Matthew Leigh Embleton.

Historic photos from Lutesoc summer schools 1975 and 1976: Cheltenham '75 '76

Vicenza lute weekend 14-16 April, jointly organised with Societa di Liuto, a 40-piece lute band played in the stunning setting of the Teatro Olimpico, Vicenza, www.teatrolimpicovicenza.it see photo gallery - events for some photos from this magnificent event.

Leiden lute weekend 12-13 May with Paul O'Dette, joint meeting with Dutch and Belgian lute societies. See photo gallery - events for photos.

Beginners lesson 11 by Lynda Sayce: Corrente.

2011

Wilfred Foxe has prepared some Baroque Lute Tabulature available as a free download.

Lute news issue 99 is now out - see the colour front cover.

Beginners lesson 10 by Lynda Sayce: Trenchmore.

Building a lute using original methods - a project report on building a renaissance lute only using techniques and tools that would have been available at the time. An adventure into experimental archaeology by Andrew Atkinson.

Gordon Gregory has made “play-along” files of the 21 John Dowland trios made by Stewart McCoy and published by Stefan Lundgren. The files allow you to practice the Lute 1 parts of the trios accompanied by the other parts played on a computer. The files are available for free download at: www.gordongregory.co.uk/minus-one.htm

A memorial concert was held for Co-founder and President of the Lute Society, Ian Harwood MBE, at 3pm, Saturday 5th November, at Cecil Sharp House,2 Regent's Park Road, Camden Town, London NW1 7AY; with a retiring collection for cancer charities. Dame Emma Kirkby and Jakob Lindberg and the Lachrimae Consort were among the performers, and many other musicians who knew him or benefitted from his work played sets. Cantus choir, swelled with members of the Society sang Wood's 'Hail Gladdening Light', one of Ian's favourite pieces.

Lute news issue 98 is now out - see the colour front cover.

Beginners lesson 9 by Lynda Sayce: Robin Reddocke, from the Ballet lute book.

On 10-Sep-2011 we had our Hungarian lute day, Hungarian Cultural Centre, Covent Garden, London. See previous meetings for details.

On 21-May-2011, we held our AGM, and a festival of lute songs. This year we had a real extravaganza: a one-day festival of lute song, with the launch of two new Lute Society editions of songs (one old and one new) and no fewer than six mini-recitals by lute song duos and trios. See previous-meetings for details.

15 to 17th April - we held our residential school, Lutefest 2011 at Benslow, Hitchin.

Beginners lesson 8 by Lynda Sayce: Newsidler, Hastu mich genumen. Piece taken from The Lute Society's complete edition of Newsidler's 'Erst Buch'

Avoiding Concert Disasters - pieces of advice from members. Some entrants approached the competition in a spirit of levity, yet all the advice is based on (sometimes painful) experience.

2010

July 2010: Beginners' lesson 5 - by Lynda Sayce: Prelude by Le Roy

June 2010: 5 new articles originally published in Lute news, are now available under our advice section: Comparison of Baroque Lute tutors, English renaissance lute music, Is your lute set up well?, the Old renaissance lute tutor books, and an Introduction to Lute Resources on the Internet

On Saturday June 26th we had our Annual Lute Society Party, hosted by Joyce and John Reeve.

April 2010: New lessons for beginners, by Lynda Sayce.

2009

We are pleased to announce the music for broken consort (treble viol or violin, flute or recorder, bass viol, lute, cittern and bandora) by Matthew Holmes is now available as a free download. See Matthew Holmes Consorts for further details.

O Happie Ground - a new playing edition of trebles and grounds. There is also freely available downloadable grounds that can be played on a computer to accompany yourself as you play the trebles.