John Dowland (1563–1626) was an English, possibly Irish-born, composer, sin… Read Full Bio ↴John Dowland (1563–1626) was an English, possibly Irish-born, composer, singer, and lutenist.
Very little is known of Dowland's early life, but it is generally thought he was born in London, or possibly Dublin. It is known that he went to Paris in 1580 where he was in service to the ambassador to the French court. He became a Roman Catholic at this time, which he claimed led to his not being offered a post at Elizabeth I's Protestant court. (However, he had told nobody of his conversion.) He worked instead for many years at the court of Christian IV of Denmark. He returned to England in 1606 and in 1612 secured a post as one of James I's lutenists. He died in London on the 20th February 1626.
Most of Dowland's music is for his own instrument, the lute. It includes several books of solo lute works, lute songs (for one voice and lute), part-songs with lute accompaniment, and several pieces for viol consort with lute.
He later wrote what is probably his best known instrumental work, Lachrimae or Seaven Teares Figured in Seaven Passionate Pavans, a set of seven for five viols and lute, each based on his well-known song "Flow My Tears". It became one of the best known pieces of consort music in his own time. His pavane "Lachrymae antiquae" was also one of the big hits of the seventeenth century.
Dowland's music often displays the melancholia that was so fashionable in music at that time, typified by a consort piece with the punning title "Semper Dowland, semper dolens" ("Always Dowland, always doleful").
Very little is known of Dowland's early life, but it is generally thought he was born in London, or possibly Dublin. It is known that he went to Paris in 1580 where he was in service to the ambassador to the French court. He became a Roman Catholic at this time, which he claimed led to his not being offered a post at Elizabeth I's Protestant court. (However, he had told nobody of his conversion.) He worked instead for many years at the court of Christian IV of Denmark. He returned to England in 1606 and in 1612 secured a post as one of James I's lutenists. He died in London on the 20th February 1626.
Most of Dowland's music is for his own instrument, the lute. It includes several books of solo lute works, lute songs (for one voice and lute), part-songs with lute accompaniment, and several pieces for viol consort with lute.
He later wrote what is probably his best known instrumental work, Lachrimae or Seaven Teares Figured in Seaven Passionate Pavans, a set of seven for five viols and lute, each based on his well-known song "Flow My Tears". It became one of the best known pieces of consort music in his own time. His pavane "Lachrymae antiquae" was also one of the big hits of the seventeenth century.
Dowland's music often displays the melancholia that was so fashionable in music at that time, typified by a consort piece with the punning title "Semper Dowland, semper dolens" ("Always Dowland, always doleful").
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01Book of Songs, Book 1: Come again, sweet love doth now invite: Come again: Sweet love doth now invite2:14Steven Rickards
03Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": Lady if you so spite me: Lady, If you so spite me1:57Steven Rickards
04Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": In Darkness Let Me Dwell: In darkness let me dwell3:35Steven Rickards
06Book of Songs, Book 3: Say, Love, if ever thou didst find: Say Love if ever thou did'st find2:04Steven Rickards
07Book of Songs, Book 1: His golden locks Time hath to silver turned: His golden locks3:54Steven Rickards
09Book of Songs, Book 1: If my complaints could passions move: If my complaints could passions move3:15Steven Rickards
11Book of Songs, Book 1: Can she excuse my wrongs, P. 42: Can she excuse my wrongs?2:54Steven Rickards
14Book of Songs, Book 1: Wilt thou unkind thus reave me of my heart: Wilt thou unkind thus reave me?3:42Steven Rickards
15Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": Stay, Time, awhile thy flying: Stay time awhile thy flying3:34Steven Rickards
22Book of Songs, Book 3: When Phoebus first did Daphne love: When Phoebus first did Daphne love1:15Steven Rickards
23Book of Songs, Book 1: Think'st thou then by thy feigning: Think's thou then by thy feigning?2:08Steven Rickards
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DOWLAND: Flow My Tears and Other Lute Songs
Steven Rickards Lyrics
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