Lachrimae

Famous musicians paid call to Ferrara, including Monteverdi, Gesualdo, and the Englishman John Dowland (1563-1626). Remembered today for his dolorous lute works and accompanied songs, Dowland claimed his Catholic faith kept him out of Elizabeth’s good favors. So he spent many years working for the court in Sweden, before James I recalled him to London in 1612. Dowland succeeded in transferring many features of song to his instrumental works, including the popular Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares. Written around 1604 for a small consort of viols and lute, the Lachrimae consists of seven pavans, each based on material from Dowland’s song “Flow my tears.” The original 30-minute work was abbreviated and arranged in the 17th century for solo keyboard by William Randall.

(c) Jason Stell