John Dowland and William Shakespeare were exact contemporaries, born only one year apart.
Composer Biography
John Dowland, a true genius in the world of the lute, was a Catholic during a difficult time in English history.
Recording & Production
Two different lutes, an 8-course and a 9-course, both by Paul Thomson, were used for this recording.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Dowland's music explores the full range of human emotions with a unique blend of spirit, heart, and intellect, rather than being solely melancholic.
Instruments
The lute was a continuously developing instrument during Dowland's lifetime; he would have started on a six-course lute and later played nine- or ten-course lutes.
Performer Biography
Nigel North, the lutenist on this album, was initially inspired by the early 1960s instrumental pop group The Shadows.
Compositional Technique
Dowland often revised his music, with some lute pieces existing in as many as ten versions, making it impossible to define an 'authentic one'.
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