Flow, My Teares - John Dowland

Introduction

This piece was composed by John Dowland in 1596, and published in his 1600 book Second Booke of Songs and Ayres. The book was published by George Eastland of Fleet Street, in London. It was originally written as a Pavan and titled “Lachrimae Pavane”. In the Second Booke of Songs and Ayres lyrics were introduced and may have been written by Dowland himself.(Caldwell, 429) This was Dowland’s Most well known piece of music, and he wrote many variations on the theme.

The Composer

John Dowland was born in 1563 and was buried 20 Feb 1626 (Poulton). While relatively little is known about his early life, it is known that in 1580 he travelled to Paris where he lived until 1584(Poulton, 26-27). He received his Bachelor in Music from Christ Church, Oxford, in 1588.(Poulton, 28) After failing to get the open position in Queen Elizabeth the First’s court, in 1594, Dowland decided to travel(Poulton, 30). He eventually settled into a court musician position for King Christian IV of Denmark, in 1598(Poulton, 52).

The Piece

Flow my teares was written originally as an instrumental dance piece. The original form was meant to match the Pavane. It was reimagined several times. In 1604 Dowland had a book of music called, Lachrimæ or seaven teares figured in seaven passionate pavans, with divers other pavans, galliards and allemands, set forth for the lute, viols, or violons, in five parts, which features 7 different variations on the theme of Lachrimae. Each of these versions is written as a Pavane for a consort of 5 viols and a lute, and each puts a slightly different twist on the tears motif, as is apparent in the titles of the pieces. It is written as an “Ayre.” Ayre’s are derived from the French “air de cour” and the Italian “monody”.(Buelow, 306) They were popularized in England by Dowland, and were published both as solo pieces with lute accompaniment as well as part songs. (Buelow, 306)

My Performance

I will be performing the piece alone and without lute accompaniment. Which, while a departure from the way it was written, is within Dowland’s style. “Dowland tends to offer more than one option.”(Maher)

Why I chose this piece

This piece was the first piece of music I heard played on the lute. I found it almost indescribably beautiful. It was the first period piece that I ever learned, and after a little over a year practicing it, I feel that I am finally ready to do the piece justice.

References

Buelow, G. J. History of Baroque Music: Music in the 17th and First Half of the 18th Centuries. N.p.: Indiana U Press, 2004. Print.

The Oxford History of English Music: Volume 1: From the Beginnings to c.1715 ed. John Caldwell. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1991. The Oxford History of English Music: Volume 1: From the Beginnings to c.1715 ed. John Caldwell. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1991.

Dowland, John. Lachrimæ or seaven teares figured in seaven passionate pavans, with divers other pavans, galliards and allemands, set forth for the lute, viols, or violons, in five parts. John Windet. London. 1604. PDF
(Found at https://musopen.org/sheetmusic/43281/john-dowland/lachrimae-or-seven-tears”)

Holman, Peter. Dowland: lachrimae. Cambridge, Cambridge Univ Press, 1999.

Poulton, Diana. “The Life of John Dowland.” John Dowland. New and Rev. ed. Berkeley U.a.: U of California Pr., 1982. 19-94. Print.

N.B: Original Printing has been digitized and can be found here:
http://imslp.org/wiki/The_Second_Book_of_Songes_(Dowland,_John