What does the music of John Dowland mean to me?
Hi! My name is Liz Pallett and I am a working lute player!✨
Music is a great source of comfort in my life and the works of John Dowland are very dear to my heart. Dowland's lute solos are works of great beauty and his songs are the essence of perfection.
I would very much like to share and celebrate this remarkable man whose music still resonates, with not just me, but with many, many people 400 years after his death.
How do I intend to mark John Dowland's anniversary year, 2026?
In order to mark this significant anniversary in 2026, I am aiming to perform and produce a 26 video collection of his lute solos and songs. These videos will be filmed in historic locations here in the UK and if possible, Europe.
I hope to release the videos fortnightly throughout John Dowland's 400th Anniversary of his death, 2026.
The collection will include Dowland's most famous works such as the Lachrimae Pavan and the Frog Galliard, as well as lesser known lute solos such as Dr Case's Pavan and Loth to Depart.
I am also aiming to film a selection of his most famous lute songs with young singers starting out in the profession to create a sense of Dowland's legacy continuing through the generations.
Where can the collection be found once they are released?
The 26 video collection will be posted on my Luteweb YouTube. It will be free and accessible to everyone.
Some videos will also be shared on the Lute Society YouTube channel here in the UK.
How is this going to be done?
During the dreaded lockdown years, I found myself on a steep learning curve teaching myself how to film, record and edit material. I now have over 80 videos on my YouTube channel. I do all my own production work and can see my full video catalogue here.
Why do I need funding?
The project is big! It will involve many hours of preparation, filming and editing. I will need to start working in January 2025 in order to maintain a smooth upload for the anniversary year 2026 of every 2 weeks. It is going to take a year and it will require dedication, experience and skill in order to put together and produce high quality videos.
As a professional musician myself, also want my singers to receive a professional fee. It is very important to me that skill, talent and dedication is recognised.
What funding have I received to date and what is my funding target?
I am supremely grateful to Cllr Beverley Nielsen, Cllr John Gallagher and Victoria Carman of the Malvern Hills District Council who helped me kickstart this project with funding.
It is also with much thanks to the Lute Society here in the UK who have awarded me funding from the Gillian Brown bequest fund.
Together, these bodies have already set me on my way with half the funding needed to be able to have a green light and start this project.
With this crowdfunding campaign, I am aiming to hit my minimum funding target to get started and to allow me to share and celebrate this beautiful music with everyone. 💕
If you would like to know more, please feel free to get in touch: