John Dowland
John Dowland remains a figure shrouded in biographical uncertainty, with his birthplace contested between London and Dublin. Some sources suggest 1563 as his birth year, while others point to Dalkey near Dublin based on the claims of Irish historian W. H. Grattan Flood. Thomas Fuller argued for Westminster, yet no corroborating evidence supports either location definitively. One piece of evidence points toward Dublin: he dedicated the song From Silent Night to Mr. John Forster the younger, a merchant from that city. The Forsters were a prominent family there, providing several Lord Mayors to Dublin during that era.
From 1598 Dowland worked at the court of Christian IV of Denmark, where King Christian paid him astronomical sums. His salary was 500 daler a year, making him one of the highest-paid servants of the Danish court. Though highly regarded by King Christian, he often overstayed his leave when returning to England for publishing business or other reasons. Dowland was dismissed in 1606 and returned to England; in early 1612 he secured a post as one of James I's lutenists. There are few compositions dating from the moment of his royal appointment until his death in London in 1626. Dowland's last payment from the court was on the 20th of January 1626, and he was buried at St Ann's, Blackfriars, London, on the 20th of February 1626.
Dowland's music often displays a melancholia rare in music at that time, and he pioneered it together with Johann Froberger. He wrote a consort piece with the punning title Semper Dowland semper Dolens, which translates to always Dowland, always doleful. This phrase may be said to sum up much of his work. Richard Barnfield, Dowland's contemporary, refers to him in poem VIII of The Passionate Pilgrim (1598), calling his heavenly touch upon the lute something that doth ravish human sense. One of his better known works is the lute song Flow my tears, the first verse of which runs: He later wrote what is probably his best known instrumental work, Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, Figured in Seaven Passionate Pavans.
Until 2024, only one comprehensive monograph of Dowland's life and works, by Diana Poulton, was available in print. A more updated biography by K. Dawn Grapes was published in July 2024. Many of Dowland's works survive only in manuscript form. The Whole Book of Psalmes appeared in 1592, containing six pieces by Dowland among ten composers. The New Booke of Tabliture came out in 1596 with seven solo lute pieces. His First Booke of Songes or Ayres arrived in London in 1597 as a set of 21 lute-songs. Brian Robins wrote that many of the songs were composed long before publication yet revealed Dowland as a fully fledged master. The Second Booke of Songs followed in 1600 with 22 lute songs, while the Third and Last Booke appeared in 1603.
Dowland performed espionage assignments for Sir Robert Cecil in France and Denmark despite his high rate of pay seeming to make him merely a court musician. We have in his own words the fact that he was for a time embroiled in treasonous Catholic intrigue in Italy, whither he had travelled hoping to meet Luca Marenzio. Whatever his religion, however, he remained intensely loyal to the Queen though he seemed to hold a grudge against her remark that he was an obstinate Papist. Though plotters offered him a large sum from the Pope plus safe passage for his wife and children, he declined further involvement and begged pardon from Sir Robert Cecil and from the Queen.
One of the first 20th-century musicians who successfully helped reclaim Dowland from history books was singer-songwriter Frederick Keel. Keel included fifteen Dowland pieces in two sets of Elizabethan love songs published in 1909 and 1913 which achieved popularity in their day. In 1935 Australian-born composer Percy Grainger arranged Now O now I needs must part for piano. In 1951 counter-tenor Alfred Deller recorded songs by Dowland with label HMV C.4178. Benjamin Britten wrote Nocturnal after John Dowland in 1963 for guitarist Julian Bream based on themes from Come Heavy Sleepe. Jan Akkerman recorded Tabernakel in 1973 on lute while Elvis Costello included Can she excuse my wrongs on The Juliet Letters re-release in
2006.
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Common questions
Where was John Dowland born and what is the evidence for Dublin?
John Dowland's birthplace remains contested between London, Westminster, and Dalkey near Dublin. Evidence pointing to Dublin includes his dedication of From Silent Night to Mr. John Forster the younger, a merchant from that city whose family provided several Lord Mayors.
When did John Dowland die and where was he buried in 1626?
John Dowland died in London on the 20th of January 1626 after receiving his last court payment. He was buried at St Ann's, Blackfriars, London, on the 20th of February 1626.
What musical style did John Dowland pioneer with Johann Froberger?
John Dowland pioneered a melancholia rare in music at that time together with Johann Froberger. His work Semper Dowland semper Dolens translates to always Dowland, always doleful, which sums up much of his output.
How many lute songs are included in John Dowland's First Booke of Songes or Ayres published in 1597?
John Dowland's First Booke of Songes or Ayres arrived in London in 1597 as a set of 21 lute-songs. Brian Robins noted that while many were composed long before publication, they revealed Dowland as a fully fledged master.
Why did John Dowland decline treasonous Catholic intrigue in Italy despite offers from the Pope?
John Dowland declined further involvement in treasonous Catholic intrigue in Italy because he remained intensely loyal to the Queen despite her remark calling him an obstinate Papist. Plotters offered him a large sum from the Pope plus safe passage for his wife and children, but he begged pardon instead.