Dowland Come Again Switch Alto Tenor

Linda Crampton has loved music since childhood. She plays the piano and recorder, sings, and listens to classical, folk, and early on music.

The lute in a detail of The Ambassadors (1533) by Hans Holbein

Stephanie Buck, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain license

John Dowland

John Dowland (1563–1626 or perhaps 1562–1626) was a prolific and famous composer in Renaissance England. He was also a vocalizer and a lute player. He created songs as well equally music for dances, solo instrument performances, and consorts. Dowland often wrote melancholy songs, which were pop in his time. Much of his instrumental work and some of his songs are more cheerful, however. His compositions are enjoyed by many fans of early music today, including me.

I've included performances of eleven of John Dowland's compositions in this article. I besides hash out the pieces and requite a few facts about the performers. Though I've written Dowland's name as the source of the quoted lyrics, it'south uncertain whether he created the words for all of his songs or whether he used poems or lyrics created by other people for some of them.

Self-portrait of the artist playing the lute by Jan Steen (1625/1626-1679)

Alonzo de Mendosa, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain license

one. Come up Again, Sugariness Love Doth At present Invite

In "Come up Again, Sweetness Love Doth Now Invite," the vocaliser describes his desire to be with his loved i again. Sadly, she is now total of disdain for him after in one case returning his honey. The vocaliser tells her that he wants to "die with thee over again." I remember the director of a choir that I in one case belonged to giving an agreeable clarification of what "die" means in early music. It does sometimes refer to physical death, only it besides refers to the superlative of passion during an intimate relationship.

I recall the vocaliser in the video below gives a lovely functioning of the song. Some debate exists about how much vocal vibrato was used in the Renaissance. Vibrato is a slight variation in pitch in both directions as a singer holds a note. It's a technique used past opera singers to give richness to a tone. It was often frowned upon in the Renaissance considering it was idea to remove the purity of a tone. Some early-music singers today use very trivial or no vibrato. Others, like the singer beneath, use more.

To see, to hear,

To touch, to buss

To die with thee again

In sweetest sympathy

— John Dowland

Nola Richardson is a soprano who is based in the U.s.. She performs as a soloist with orchestras and choirs and has as well appeared in operas. She often sings early on music. The lutenist in the video is John Armato.

2. Fantasia No. vii

Many of Dowland'due south pieces are played today by the lute, as he intended. Some of them accept been transcribed for the classical guitar, however. Personally, I adopt the sound of this instrument to that of the lute, even though it produces less accurate performances.

A fantasia lacks a fixed musical form. I love the performance of Dowland'due south "Fantasia No. seven" below. The piece has a rich texture and interesting rhythms. Information technology'south quite different from the composer's songs. John Dowland was a versatile musician.

The guitarist in the video is Aljaž Cvirn. He's based in Slovenia only performs regularly in many European countries and competes in international competitions.

iii. Flow My Tears (Lachrimae)

"Flow My Tears" is a very melancholy song. The vocalist bemoans the fact that they have been exiled with no hope of return. The song begins with the following two lines and ends with the very depressing verse quoted below.

"Flow, my tears, fall from your springs,
Exiled for ever, let me mourn"

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The vocalizer in the video is soprano Phoebe Jevtovic Rosquist and the lutenist is David Tayler. Both musicians are based in the U.s.. I retrieve the singer conveys the misery expressed in the lyrics well.

Hark! you shadows that in darkness dwell,

Larn to condemn lite

Happy, happy they that in hell

Feel not the world'south despite.

— John Dowland

4. Mrs. Wintertime's Jump

In contrast to the previous piece, "Mrs. Wintertime'due south Jump" has a lively tune. Information technology'due south a brusque only cheerful lute piece meant to back-trail a trip the light fantastic toe. We don't know who Mrs. Winter was, but she likely belonged to the upper form of guild. Dancing was a popular activity at the time and dancing power was an important skill for wealthy people.

Nigel North is the instrumentalist in the video. He'south a British lutenist and lute instructor who has been involved in many recordings of musical performances. He's currently a professor at the Jacobs School of Music, which is part of Indiana University in the United States.

v. Now, O Now I Needs Must Role

The song below is performed in the way of a music video. I like watching the video because in addition to the enjoyable vocal presentation it shows a journey on an old steam train in England. The train travels forth the Due north Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The plot of the video involves four friends who get on the railroad train together and sing Dowland's vocal one time on board. Information technology also involves a somewhat isolated lutenist who follows them. The group's description of the video on YouTube says that the singers "are trailed (or guided?) by a mysterious lutenist during a solar day out on a vintage steam train."

The lyrics of the song are sorry, simply the tune sung past the singers in the video and in well-nigh other versions that I've heard isn't as melancholy as in the previous songs. The singer in the lyrics is expressing his sadness about the fact that he must go out his loved one, though he doesn't explain why he must practice this.

Now, O now, I needs must part,

Parting though I absent mourn.

Absence can no joy impart:

Joy once fled cannot return.

— John Dowland

Despite its French name, Les Canards Chantants (or The Singing Ducks) is based in Philadelphia. The group specializes in giving early music performances and currently consists of six members.

6. The Frog Galliard

The galliard was a popular trip the light fantastic in England during the Renaissance. Information technology'southward often described as a sprightly or even an able-bodied dance. The choreographed movement patterns involved hops, jumps, and leaps at specific moments. Queen Elizabeth 1st is said to accept been a great fan of the trip the light fantastic. Information technology'southward uncertain why Dowland called his tune the "frog" galliard. The tune of "Now, O Now I Needs Must Office" is said to exist based on that of "The Frog Galliard."

I chose the video beneath not but considering I like the guitarist's performance just besides because he gives an interesting introduction to John Dowland and the music. The musician is Matthew McAllister. He plays the classical guitar in concerts and also teaches the instrument.

vii. Sorrow, Stay

In this piece, we return to beautiful but melancholy music. The vocal ends with depressing lines in which the singer says that they have no hope of relief. The first four lines of the vocal are shown below.

"Sorrow, stay, lend true repentant tears
To a woeful wretched wight.
Hence, despair with thy tormenting fears
O practice not my poor heart affright".

In the video beneath, the piece is sung by Andreas Scholl. He's a countertenor, or a male person alto, from Germany. He's a composer and teacher besides as a popular performer and specializes in baroque music.

8. Fantasia No. i

Unlike the fantasia in a higher place, this ane is played on the lute by Nigel North. Like the previous slice, nonetheless, information technology has a rich texture created by the melody and harmonies and the melding of the different parts.

Dowland wrote seven fantasias for the lute. To me, it virtually seems similar they were written by a different person from the songs, though this wasn't the example. John Dowland must have been a talented lutenist.

9. Fine Knacks for Ladies

Dowland did write some cheerful songs, including this i. The piece is sometimes known every bit "The Pedlar'due south Song." Ostensibly, the lyrics are sung by a pedlar (known equally a peddler in North America) who is advertising his wares. Some of the lines are puzzling and advise that at that place is more to their meaning than we realize, however, including the reference to "Turtles and twins, Court'south brood, a heavenly pair."

Information technology's unknown whether Dowland wrote the lyrics or used a verse form that had already been written. The beginning verse of the vocal is shown below. I like the performance of the quartet in the video underneath the quote, but unfortunately, I don't know their names.

Fine knacks for ladies, inexpensive, pick, brave and new,

Adept pennyworths merely money cannot motility,

I keep a fair only for the fair to view,

A beggar may be liberal of love.

Though all my wares be trash, the center is true.

— John Dowland (or maybe bearding)

ten. The Earl of Essex Galliard

I don't know why the Earl of Essex deserved a galliard named in his laurels, but I'g glad Dowland created information technology. The Earl in question is Robert Devereux, second Earl of Essex, who was a favourite of the queen before he was accused of treason.

In the video below, the piece is played by an impressive collection of renaissance recorders belonging to a group called The Purple Current of air Music. The group is based in Amsterdam.

The listing of recorder types in club of increasing size and decreasing pitch is listed below. The soprano recorder is the typical size played by elementary school students. The sub-contrabass is a gigantic and very rare instrument. The numbers in brackets correspond the number of instruments in The Royal Wind Music.

• sopranino
• soprano
• alto or treble (2)
• tenor (2)
• bass (ane)
• great bass (2)
• contrabass (2)
• sub-contrabass (1)

11. Tin She Excuse My Wrongs

Though I bask listening to the recorders play "The Earl of Essex Galliard," I call up the tune of the piece shows up amend in the video below. The video includes Julian Bream, a well-known classical guitarist and lutenist in United kingdom during the twentieth century. He'south still live, though I don't know whether he withal performs.

In the video, Bream plays the lute. He'southward accompanied by musicians playing other instruments every bit well as tenor Robert Tear. When accompanied by lyrics, the galliard is sometimes called "Tin She Excuse My Wrongs." Both the version without lyrics and the one with lyrics were played in Dowland'southward time.

Though the lyrics sound as though they could exist referring to the Earl's fall from grace, the point in time when they were created and the moment when they were added to the music is uncertain. It doesn't seem that Dowland got into any trouble by publicizing the words of the vocal.

Can she alibi my wrongs with Virtue's cloak?

Shall I call her good when she proves unkind?

Are those clear fires which vanish into smoke?

Must I praise the leaves where no fruit I find?

— John Dowland

Interesting Compositions

I call back that exploring John Dowland'southward music is very worthwhile. Renewed interest in his work began in the twentieth century and continues today. Enough of his work has survived to enable people to focus only on the songs, just on the instrumental pieces, or on Dowland's whole surviving repertoire.

I enjoy listening to Dowland's music and playing or singing his pieces. In addition, I discover that listening to his music and the lyrics is an interesting link to history and the mode of life (at least in some parts of guild) in the past. His compositions are interesting for multiple reasons.

References and a Resource

• An overview of the life of John Dowland from Oxford University Press
• Information about the composer and his music from encylopedia.com
• Vocal works by John Dowland (public domain lyrics and music scores) from the Choral Public Domain Library, also known as CPDL and ChoralWiki

© 2019 Linda Crampton

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on March 20, 2020:

Hi, Peggy. Thank you for commenting. I hope you have a good weekend.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on March 20, 2020:

I am listening to Fantasia No. 7 equally I read this. I'll have to come back and listen to more than of these videos. I was non familiar with the music composed by John Dowland. Cheers for assembling this information.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on February 19, 2020:

Howdy, Denise. I enjoyed the train trip video, too. John Dowland wrote some lovely music. Give thanks you very much for the visit and the comment.

Denise McGill from Fresno CA on February 19, 2020:

These were all marvelous pieces. I was very entertained past the train trip. I think the lute is a sadly underrated instrument and ought to be revived.

Blessings,

Dneise

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on March 11, 2019:

Thank yous, Devika. I ever appreciate your visits.

DDE on March eleven, 2019:

Impressive and fascinating about the 11 Renaissance Songs and Instrumental Pieces by John Dowland. A true and unique hub.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on February 26, 2019:

Thank you for commenting, Nithya. I'm glad you enjoyed the music.

Nithya Venkat from Dubai on February 25, 2019:

Thanks for introducing me to John Dowland. I enjoyed listening to his musical compositions.

Linda Crampton (writer) from British Columbia, Canada on February 24, 2019:

Thank you lot very much for visit and the kind and interesting annotate, Genna.

Genna East from Massachusetts, United states on February 24, 2019:

Howdy Linda...

Stunning article. The lute and courtly dance music thrived throughout the English language courts and then I was especially interested in Dowland's vocal for Robert Devereaux, as he as well defended music Queen Elizabeth later on her decease. (Elizabeth is a favorite character of mine in history.) He never received a court appointment from her. Well researched and beautifully presented, Linda as always. This was a delight to read and to heed to.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on Feb 15, 2019:

Hullo, Flourish. I haven't done much research into why melancholy songs were popular in Dowland's time, but one music writer says they were admired because they showed that the composer was capable of deep feelings.

Thanks for sharing the information virtually your cat. I loved reading virtually her reaction when she heard the music.

FlourishAnyway from USA on February 15, 2019:

Prior to this, I don't call back I've always heard anything played on the lute. (My cat and I listened to the videos. I enjoyed the soprano more than she did. Her ears turned like an owl's.) Thank y'all for sharing this type of music with us. Any idea why the music lyrics tended to exist so melancholy?

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on Feb xiii, 2019:

Thank you lot, Bede. I appreciate your visit. I agree with your comments almost the classical guitar and the piece played by the guitarist. I dearest the instrument, the John Dowland piece, and the guitarist'southward rendition of the slice.

Bede from Minnesota on February 13, 2019:

I really enjoyed this commodity, Linda. It makes me desire to know more nigh JD. I agree that his music sounds better on classical guitar. It has a fuller sound. The piece played by the Slovene guitarist is uncommonly beautiful.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on February 12, 2019:

Thank you very much for the comment, Dianna. I recall Dowland's music is worth listening to.

Dianna Mendez on Feb 12, 2019:

I feel like I have been to a classical concert series! This is such an interesting post. I listened to a couple of the songs. I thought the Frog was quite amusing.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on February 12, 2019:

Thanks very much for listening to the videos, Dora. I capeesh your comment as well.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on Feb 12, 2019:

I listened to three of the videos. One was relaxing. Another was classic at best and held my attention and adoration. The vocals are excellent. Thanks for these beautiful pieces to our enjoyment. Thanks for this informative commodity.

Linda Crampton (writer) from British Columbia, Canada on Feb 12, 2019:

Hullo, Chitrangada. Thanks so much for reading the article, listening to the music, and leaving such a squeamish comment.

Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on February 12, 2019:

An interesting commodity, with some bang-up music.

I checked out some of the videos and they are only wonderful. Thank you for familiarising me with this corking music personality and his wonderful work.

Thanks for sharing this well researched and well presented article!

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on Feb 11, 2019:

Hello, Frances. I would love to travel on the railway. Having the singers in my carriage would be a wonderful bonus! I appreciate your visit.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on Feb eleven, 2019:

Thanks, Pamela. I did do research for the article, but possibly not as much every bit you might remember. I've sung some of Dowland's songs for a long fourth dimension. I besides play the alto recorder and am interested in the different forms of the instrument.

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on February 11, 2019:

Linda, I was not familiar with this composer and very talented human before, but I dearest the words to his music. Thank you for a very interesting article that I know must accept required quite a bit of enquiry.

Frances Metcalfe from The Limousin, France on February 11, 2019:

How-do-you-do Linda I know Flow My Tears, and it was nice to accept some Dowland with a grin on his face up! I have travelled on the North Yorks Railway and would have loved to take this group in my carriage - my favourite of all the performances - beautiful voices. Enjoyed the article.

Linda Crampton (writer) from British Columbia, Canada on February 11, 2019:

Thank you very much for the visit and the comment, Eman.

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on Feb xi, 2019:

Hullo, Liz. Thanks for the visit and the interesting question. Shakespeare lived from 1564 to 1616 and John Donne from 1572 to 1631, so their lives did overlap in time with that of John Dowland.

Eman Abdallah Kamel from Egypt on February eleven, 2019:

A very interesting article. Thanks, Linda for sharing all this information nigh these beautiful classical musical instruments.

Liz Westwood from UK on February 11, 2019:

I had not heard of John Dowland earlier I read your very informative article. Would he have been a contemporary of Shakespeare and John Donne?

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on Feb 11, 2019:

Give thanks you, Maren. I think it'south lovely music, too!

Maren Elizabeth Morgan from Pennsylvania on February 11, 2019:

Lovely music. Thanks for doing the enquiry!

Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on Feb 11, 2019:

Thanks for the visit, Pecker. I hope you accept every bit good a mean solar day as possible.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on February eleven, 2019:

I'm afraid we have some conditions problems here, so I must run. Have a great day!

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Source: https://spinditty.com/genres/Renaissance-Songs-and-Dance-Music-Composed-by-John-Dowland

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