The August meeting of the Scottish Lute and Early Guitar Society was opened by Luisa McMinn. Luisa has multiple instruments to pick form and this time opted to play her 14 course James Marriage theorbo. Having tuned the instrument to 415 she played two pieces which both required reaching up to the high frets on the instrument and down to the lowest bass strings. Luisa played the very well known “Chaconne” by Robert de Visée. The tune is beautifully melancholic, and Luisa managed to fill the room with the sound of her instrument. And as one of our members remarked; it isn’t a SLEGS meeting until Luisa plays her theorbo. Alastair Merrill performed second. He played his new Tony Johnson 7 course renaissance lute strung with nylgut. Alastair had spent some time on Tony Johnsons waiting list, as is to be expected, so has been very pleased to spend some time on the instrument now that it is in...

The August meeting of the Scottish Lute & Early Guitar Society will take place on Sunday 25th of August We are lucky to have Jamie Akers speaking in the second part of the meeting about 19th century Eastern European guitar music for 9,10 and even 12-string Romantic guitars – he has recently made a recording of this repertoire. His talk is entitled: Lost Treasures: forgotten masterpieces for forgotten guitars. A unique chance to hear neglected music written for extended range historical guitars, on original instruments. This should be of interest to lutenist and guitarists alike!  Please bring £3 to give to our speaker as usual.Before that we will have our normal session playing to one another – up to 3 pieces per person is ideal (1 is fine if you don’t want to play 3!) All abilities very welcome and please do send this information on to anyone you think might be interested. Timings as follows:1pm arrival1.30pm members perform up...

The next meeting will be on Saturday 25th May. It will consist of the normal session where members play to each other followed by a break for refreshments and chat. Thereafter we will be doing some informal ensemble playing for Renaissance lutes tuned at 440. Information about the music will be sent to those registering. Arrival: 1pmSession 1: from 1.30pmRefreshments: 3pmEnsemble playing: 4pm If you wish to be added to our mailing list, and receive further information regarding upcoming meetings, please reach out to Joanna Allsop on the Scottish Lute and Early Guitar Society Facebook group here

The next SLEGS meeting will be on Saturday 23rd March. As our normal venue isn’t available, Joanna will be hosting it at 11/3 Brandon Street, EH3 5DX. Hopefully this will still be convenient for members – it is reasonably easy walk from Waverley and on the 36, 23 and 27 bus routes. (Please note, Brandon Street is also Airlie Place – the two sides of the street have different names, so the Airlie Place stop is the one you want!) If you are planning to attend, please register on the eventbrite page so we have an idea of numbers and sufficient chairs (!), and if you have not attended our players meeting before, please make yourself known in advance by commenting below. DATE: Saturday 23rd MarchVenue: 11/3 Brandon Street, EH3 5DX1pm-1.30pm – Arrive1.30pm – Our regular meeting, members are invited to perform the music they have been working on and to present on topics of interest. Depending on the...

Our first meeting of 2024 was opened by Bruce Roth. He had brought along his eight-courseBarber and Harris lute to play two pieces from the Rowallan Manuscript: page 37, “A ScotsTune”; and then page 36. The Scots Tune is a beautiful piece in Bruce’s hands as hehighlighted the melody and showed great proficiency with the left-hand fingering. Beforeplaying the second piece, Bruce told us that although it was probably written around 1620, ithas a certain 1960s-esque charm to it. After hearing the piece, we all agreed it would not beout of place among The Beatles or Donovan!Bruce also brought along a rather unique instrument as a discussion starter. After postingphotographs on our Facebook page he discovered that it is a lautengitarre orwandelvogellaute from early 20th Germany. The shape of the instrument is influenced by theshape of a coat of arms, called “wappen” shaped. It was made by PerlGold but needs a bit ofwork on it, so Bruce will be...

Our summer meeting was very well attended. It opened with two duets played by JoannaAllsop and Tanya. They have been practicing together on their spare Sundays and preparedtwo Elizabethan dances for us. Both pieces were gentle and lilting as both performers tookturns playing the written line and the decoration. It is a rare treat to hear duets at ourmeetings, and congratulations to Tanya for making her first SLEGS meeting performance. Glen Robertson played A Scots Tune from the Pickering Lute Book, Bodachan A’mhìreanfrom Betsy Smalls Gaelic Airs book and Anon. Recercar from a Venetian Manuscript circa1520 featuring a “Burgundian cadence”. As ever, Glen played with a clear bright tone andbeautiful phrasing. Society co-founder Bill Samson was the first to perform on a guitar in this meeting. Theguitar itself was built by Bill in 2015. It is a copy of the Torres FE18 Guitar, which he hasheld in his own hands. Bill played two pieces, Carcassi Opus 59, nos. 1...

The first Scottish Lute & Early Guitar Society meeting of 2024 is approaching! We are looking forward to hosting our regular Players Meeting again and also to welcome Sara Salloum as she delivers a presentation on woman lutenists in 17th century England. If you are planning to attend, please register on the private eventbrite page so we have an idea of numbers, and if you have not attended our players meeting before, please make yourself known in advance by email. Meeting is at the regular venue, Chris Elmes place, 1F1 25 Haddington Place, EH7 4AF. DATE: Saturday 20th January 1pm-1.30pm – Arrive 1.30pm – Our regular meeting, members are invited to perform the music they have been working on and to present on topics of interest. Depending on the numbers present about 3 pieces per performer would be ideal. £1 donation for venue. 3pm – Tea, Coffee, and Cake. A chance to socialise. 3.30pm – Guest talk by Sara...

For our summer meeting we are delighted to welcome renowned luthier Tony Johnson! He will be discussing making lutes, and there will be demonstrations of his instruments by Sara Salloum. If you are planning to attend, please register on the private eventbrite page so we have an idea of numbers. New members interested in attending now only need to sign up on the eventbrite page, rather than make email contact. Meeting is at the regular venue, Chris Elmes place, 1F1 25 Haddington Place, EH7 4AF. 8th July Meeting 1pm-1.30pm – Arrive 1.30pm – Our regular meeting, members are invited to perform the music they have been working on and to present on topics of interest. Depending on the numbers present about 3 pieces per performer would be ideal. £1 donation for venue. 3pm – Tea, Coffee, and Cake. A chance to socialise before the lecture recital. 3.30pm – Tony Johnson – The Life of a Luthier Tony Johnson is one of...

Our first meeting of 2023 opened with Stuart McLuckie playing three pieces on his 11-course baroque lute.  He played a Trio and a Minuet by Weiss, separated by an anonymous Jig.  Stuart told us the Jig is listed as a “beginner” piece by the Lute Society, but we questioned this, maybe there are no truly easy pieces for this instrument!  Stuart showed great precision with his thumb on the bass courses and decorated the pieces very tastefully. Impressively he played all three pieces from memory. Sara Salloum joined us once more to treat us to two pieces played on an 8-course Renaissance Lute.  Sara first played “Mille Regres”, in a less common German intabulation by Hans Gerle.  Sara demonstrated considerable skill playing the intricate chord shapes and large stretches that were required for her fretting hand.  Sara then played John Johnson’s “Flat Galliard” from the Mynshall lute book, originally the lute book of a young fourteen-year-old boy. The manuscript...

Our Spring meeting will take place on the 20th May 2023, which will be in the original format of a players only meeting! Though there are exciting guests lined up for later this year… If you are planning to attend, please register on the private eventbrite page so we have an idea of numbers, and if you have not attended our players meeting before, please make yourself known in advance by email.  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-meeting-20th-may-2023-tickets-623320878527 20th May Meeting 1.30pm-2pm – Arrive 2pm – Our regular meeting, members are invited to perform the music they have been working on and to present on topics of interest. Depending on the numbers present about 3 pieces per performer would be ideal. £1 donation for the venue. 3.30pm-4pm – Tea, Coffee, and Cake.