John Dowland, the composer of these lute songs, spent a significant part of his life traveling and was a witness to the aesthetic changes in early 17th-century Europe.
Compositional Technique
The rhythmic patterns in Dowland's 'Can She Excuse' are not merely decorative; they connect the poem and music by uniting them in a shared proportion.
Compositional Technique
In 16th-century England, music and language were believed to coincide not through meaning, but through the numbers and proportions that governed all movements, both earthly and cosmic.
Instruments
The recording features a liuto forte, a recently developed hybrid instrument that combines characteristics of the lute and the theorbo.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Dowland's music combines the English polyphonic tradition with new modes of expression emerging in continental Europe, reflecting his travels and exposure to different styles.
Interpretation
Damien Guillon, countertenor, and Éric Bellocq, lutenist, aim for a dialogue between voice and lute rather than mere accompaniment, challenging traditional interpretations of Dowland's songs.
Interpretation
The performers, Damien Guillon and Éric Bellocq, do not seek a strict historical reconstruction but rather a personal aesthetic reflection that questions established performing habits.
