Dowland's Lachrymae Pavan, originally for lute, was widely arranged across Europe by composers like Byrd and Morley for various instruments before Dowland himself produced a vocal version.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Dowland seems to have cultivated a melancholic persona, signing himself 'Jo: Dolandi de Lachrimae' and describing himself as 'infoelice Inglese'.
Historical Context
Dowland's melancholic temperament aligned with a broader vein of melancholy in Elizabethan culture, which viewed the pursuit of knowledge as injurious to the soul.
Composer Biography
John Dowland, a lutenist and composer, was aggrieved at failing to secure a post at Queen Elizabeth's court in 1594.
Compositional Technique
The opening motif of Dowland's Lachrymae Pavan descends a fourth through a chromatic scale, affectively describing the act of weeping.
Performer Biography
Cristiano Contadin, the viola da gamba player on this album, is the founder of the Opera Prima Ensemble and has recorded for labels like Sony, EMI Classical, and Deutsche Grammophon.
Interpretation
Cristiano Contadin, the gambist and conductor of Opera Prima, uses a 'broken consort' of instruments, including viols, viola da braccio, and recorder, to perform the Lachrymae sequence.
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