The opening theme of Dowland's song "Flow my tears," which musically depicts falling tears, was widely copied by composers across Europe.
Composer Biography
Dowland attributed his initial failure to secure a court appointment as Queen's lutenist to his Catholic religion.
Historical Context
Dowland, like other musicians such as William Byrd and Thomas Tallis, converted to Catholicism during a period when Queen Elizabeth's court was Protestant.
Compositional Technique
Dowland's lute accompaniments are often complex and independent of the voice, contributing equally to the word-setting, a skill for which he has been compared to Schubert.
Cultural Impact
Dowland's fame significantly increased with his work Lachrimae or Seaven Teares, a collection of consort pieces that were widely imitated and quoted.
Composition History
Dowland's first collection of lute-songs, published in 1597, was dedicated to the composer Marenzio and became immediately popular, reflecting the lute's fashionability at the time.
Composer Biography
John Dowland, the composer, was the most famous lutenist-composer of his era.
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