Dowland And His Legacy

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2018

Thwarted Ambition

20180219

Like many writers, musicians and artists of Elizabethan times, the composer and virtuoso lute player John Dowland imbued his art-form with an exquisite melancholy. The beauty and simplicity of the melodic lines he created enchanted not only his contemporaries but also composers and performers of recent years. Donald Macleod introduces a selection of Dowland's own songs and lute pieces plus the first of two pieces by Benjamin Britten featured this week, based on one of Dowland's most popular songs and written for another virtuoso - Julian Bream.

Mrs Winter's Jump (arr Claire van Kampen)

Musicians of Shakespeare's Globe

Flow my tears

Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Thomas Dunford (lute)

My Lady Hunsdon's Puffe; Sir John Smith's Almaine; Farwell

Julian Bream (lute)

Sleep wayward thoughts; Come away, come sweet love; Come again, sweet love doth now invite

Consort of Musicke

Come heavy sleep

Britten: Nocturnal

Sean Shibe (guitar).

Donald Macleod introduces the composer John Dowland, and those influenced by his melodies.

2018

Dowland Spreads His Wings

20180220

Dowland may not have succeeded in his wish to obtain a court appointment in England but his skills as a skilled lutenist spread abroad and in 1598 he took up an appointment at the Court of Christian IV of Denmark where he was one of the highest paid members of the household. His 'Second Book of Songs' was published two years later. Donald Macleod introduces some pieces from that collection performed by a Canadian group who give Dowland's songs a decidedly celtic twist, more of his distinctive lute pieces and a piano arrangement of one of his most popular songs by Percy Grainger.

Frog Galliard

Paul O'Dette (lute)

arr. Jacob van Eyck: Can she excuse

Nathalie Marec (soprano)

Bruno Boterf (tenor)

Les Witches

My Lord Willobies wellcome home

The Lady Laiton's Almone

Orlando sleepeth

Mrs White's Nothing

Go from my windowe

Mistris Whittes Thinge

Paul O'Dette (lute and orpharion)

My Lord Chamberlain his Galliard

Paul O'Dette, Jakob Lindberg (lute)

I saw my lady weepe

Ellen Hargis (soprano)

Shepherd in a Shade

His Golden Locks

Clear or Cloudy

O Sweet Woods

Fine Knacks for Ladies

Michael Slattery (tenor)

La Nef

Percy Grainger: Now O now, I needs must part

Piers Lane (piano).

Donald Macleod presents, as Dowland takes up an appointment at the Court of Denmark.

2018

The Third And Last Booke Of Songs

20180221

Dowland still had his post in the Danish Court where his lute-playing skills were handsomely rewarded but he lost any chance to obtain the post he so desperately wanted in Elizabeth's court when she died in 1603, just before the publication of his third book of songs. Donald Macleod introduces a selection from that collection whose words contain extravagant tributes to the Queen, and another of Benjamin Britten's works inspired by Dowland poignant melodies.

Semper Dowland semper dolens (arr. Christian Lindberg)

Stockholm Chamber Brass

What if I never speed

I must complain

Away with these self-loving lads

To ask for all thy love

Say, Love, if ever thou didst find

Mark Padmore (tenor)

Elizabeth Kenny (lute)

The Shoemaker's Wife

Sir John Langton's Pavan

Captain Digorie Piper his Galliard

Forlorn Hope Fancy

Nigel North (lute)

Britten: Lachrymae Op.48a

Maxim Rysanov (viola)

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Conductor, Edward Gardner

Paduana Lachrimae (transcr. Byrd)

Colin Tilney (harpsichord).

Donald Macleod introduces tributes to the Queen in Dowland's latest collection.

2018

Lachrimae

20180222

Dowland's latest publication, which appeared in 1604, was his only collection of entirely instrumental works, famous for the seven deeply felt consort pieces linked by the same falling 'tear' motif. Donald Macleod introduces this important set plus a selection of dances which appear in the same collection, and an intriguing arrangement of some of Dowland's songs by the French jazz guitarist and composer David Chevallier.

Wilt thou unkind thus reave me

Sting (vocals)

Edin Karamazov (lute)

DG 177 9890 T17

M. George Whitehead his Almand

The Earl of Essex his Galliard

Sir Henry Umpton's Funerall

The King of Denmark's Galliard

Fretwork

Christopher Wilson (lute)

All ye, whom Love or Fortune (arr. Chevallier)

The lowest trees have tops (arr. Chevallier)

Anne Magouet (soprano)

David Chevallier (guitar)

Bruno Helstroffer (theorbo)

Lachrimae or Seven Tears

Phantasm

Elizabeth Kenny (lute).

Donald Macleod introduces a set of consort pieces which grew out of a single pavan.

2018

05 LAST

Recognition

20180223

In 1612, the same year that saw his last publication, Dowland finally got his heart's desire when he was given a royal appointment as one of King James I's lutes. Donald Macleod introduces a group of devotional songs from what would prove to be Dowland's last collection, plus a response from a contemporary composer to a song widely regarded as Dowland's finest.

The Right Honourable The Lord Viscount Lisle, his Galliard

Paul O'Dette (lute)

In Darkness Let Me Dwell

Robin Blaze (countertenor)

Elizabeth Kenny (lute)

Thomas Ad耀s: Darknesse Visible

Inon Barnatan (piano)

If that a sinner's sighs

Thou mighty God

When David's Life

When the poor cripple

Consort of Musicke

Lady Riches galyerd

The Right Honourable Ferdinando Earle of Darby, his Galliard

The most sacred Queen Elizabeth, her Galliard

Tarletones riserrectione

Loth to Depart

Go nightly cares

Andreas Scholl (countertenor)

Julian Behr (lute).

Dowland finally gets his heart's desire when he receives an appointment at James' court.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2018	01	Thwarted Ambition	20180219	Like many writers, musicians and artists of Elizabethan times, the composer and virtuoso lute player John Dowland imbued his art-form with an exquisite melancholy. The beauty and simplicity of the melodic lines he created enchanted not only his contemporaries but also composers and performers of recent years. Donald Macleod introduces a selection of Dowland's own songs and lute pieces plus the first of two pieces by Benjamin Britten featured this week, based on one of Dowland's most popular songs and written for another virtuoso - Julian Bream. Mrs Winter's Jump (arr Claire van Kampen) Musicians of Shakespeare's Globe Flow my tears Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Thomas Dunford (lute) My Lady Hunsdon's Puffe; Sir John Smith's Almaine; Farwell Julian Bream (lute) Sleep wayward thoughts; Come away, come sweet love; Come again, sweet love doth now invite Consort of Musicke Come heavy sleep Britten: Nocturnal Sean Shibe (guitar). Donald Macleod introduces the composer John Dowland, and those influenced by his melodies.
2018	02	Dowland Spreads His Wings	20180220	Dowland may not have succeeded in his wish to obtain a court appointment in England but his skills as a skilled lutenist spread abroad and in 1598 he took up an appointment at the Court of Christian IV of Denmark where he was one of the highest paid members of the household. His 'Second Book of Songs' was published two years later. Donald Macleod introduces some pieces from that collection performed by a Canadian group who give Dowland's songs a decidedly celtic twist, more of his distinctive lute pieces and a piano arrangement of one of his most popular songs by Percy Grainger. Frog Galliard Paul O'Dette (lute) arr. Jacob van Eyck: Can she excuse Nathalie Marec (soprano) Bruno Boterf (tenor) Les Witches My Lord Willobies wellcome home The Lady Laiton's Almone Orlando sleepeth Mrs White's Nothing Go from my windowe Mistris Whittes Thinge Paul O'Dette (lute and orpharion) My Lord Chamberlain his Galliard Paul O'Dette, Jakob Lindberg (lute) I saw my lady weepe Ellen Hargis (soprano) Shepherd in a Shade His Golden Locks Clear or Cloudy O Sweet Woods Fine Knacks for Ladies Michael Slattery (tenor) La Nef Percy Grainger: Now O now, I needs must part Piers Lane (piano). Donald Macleod presents, as Dowland takes up an appointment at the Court of Denmark.
2018	03	The Third And Last Booke Of Songs	20180221	Dowland still had his post in the Danish Court where his lute-playing skills were handsomely rewarded but he lost any chance to obtain the post he so desperately wanted in Elizabeth's court when she died in 1603, just before the publication of his third book of songs. Donald Macleod introduces a selection from that collection whose words contain extravagant tributes to the Queen, and another of Benjamin Britten's works inspired by Dowland poignant melodies. Semper Dowland semper dolens (arr. Christian Lindberg) Stockholm Chamber Brass What if I never speed I must complain Away with these self-loving lads To ask for all thy love Say, Love, if ever thou didst find Mark Padmore (tenor) Elizabeth Kenny (lute) The Shoemaker's Wife Sir John Langton's Pavan Captain Digorie Piper his Galliard Forlorn Hope Fancy Nigel North (lute) Britten: Lachrymae Op.48a Maxim Rysanov (viola) BBC Symphony Orchestra Conductor, Edward Gardner Paduana Lachrimae (transcr. Byrd) Colin Tilney (harpsichord). Donald Macleod introduces tributes to the Queen in Dowland's latest collection.
2018	04	Lachrimae	20180222	Dowland's latest publication, which appeared in 1604, was his only collection of entirely instrumental works, famous for the seven deeply felt consort pieces linked by the same falling 'tear' motif. Donald Macleod introduces this important set plus a selection of dances which appear in the same collection, and an intriguing arrangement of some of Dowland's songs by the French jazz guitarist and composer David Chevallier. Wilt thou unkind thus reave me Sting (vocals) Edin Karamazov (lute) DG 177 9890 T17 M. George Whitehead his Almand The Earl of Essex his Galliard Sir Henry Umpton's Funerall The King of Denmark's Galliard Fretwork Christopher Wilson (lute) All ye, whom Love or Fortune (arr. Chevallier) The lowest trees have tops (arr. Chevallier) Anne Magouet (soprano) David Chevallier (guitar) Bruno Helstroffer (theorbo) Lachrimae or Seven Tears Phantasm Elizabeth Kenny (lute). Donald Macleod introduces a set of consort pieces which grew out of a single pavan.
2018	05 LAST	Recognition	20180223	In 1612, the same year that saw his last publication, Dowland finally got his heart's desire when he was given a royal appointment as one of King James I's lutes. Donald Macleod introduces a group of devotional songs from what would prove to be Dowland's last collection, plus a response from a contemporary composer to a song widely regarded as Dowland's finest. The Right Honourable The Lord Viscount Lisle, his Galliard Paul O'Dette (lute) In Darkness Let Me Dwell Robin Blaze (countertenor) Elizabeth Kenny (lute) Thomas Ad耀s: Darknesse Visible Inon Barnatan (piano) If that a sinner's sighs Thou mighty God When David's Life When the poor cripple Consort of Musicke Lady Riches galyerd The Right Honourable Ferdinando Earle of Darby, his Galliard The most sacred Queen Elizabeth, her Galliard Tarletones riserrectione Loth to Depart Go nightly cares Andreas Scholl (countertenor) Julian Behr (lute). Dowland finally gets his heart's desire when he receives an appointment at James' court.