Dowland's Foundry
Signs and Secrets
This programme is devoted to Dowland's First (1597) and Second (1600) Books of Songs or Ayres and takes as its point of departure the Elizabethan court – a murky world indeed of signs and secrets.
Although at first he failed to achieve a coveted court position, Dowland was deeply involved in this world. Elizabeth I would not tolerate open dissent. However, she was an ardent music lover, and commissioning music to be performed for the Queen was a costly and respected present. And so, a tradition arose of courtiers veiling a petition or complaint as a poem, which would be set by a professional musician and performed for the Queen.
Dowland was very active in this process and admits as much in the preface to his first book – flexing his important connections. As a result, many of Dowland's songs abound with double meanings, allusions to be deciphered by those in the know, which have been featured here. Throughout this programme, the hidden signs will be uncovered: Elizabeth's icons (the moon and the goddess Cecilia); her vassals, love and fortune; and the courtly play-acting of Arcadian shepherds, to name a few.
Programme:
Dowland Excerpt from the Prologue to the First Book
Fantasia
Whoever thinks or hopes of love for love
My thoughts are wing'd with hopes
If my complaints could passions move
Earl of Essex Galliard
Sleep wayward thoughts
Go, crystal tears
All ye whom love or fortune hath betrayed
Semper Dowland, semper Dolens
Wilt thou unkind thus reave me
Lute arise and charm the air
I saw my lady weep
O sweet woods
If floods of tears
Robin is to the greenwood gone
Now cease my wand'ring eyes
Robin reddocke
A shepherd in a shade
Clear or cloudy
Performers:
Gwendolen Martin soprano
Clemmie Franks alto
Daniel Thomson tenor
Timothy Dickinson bass
Sam Brown lute
Islington Proms
Sat, 19 Sep 2026
St James' Church, London N1
7:00pm
£20 (conc. available)- ➕1 other performance
Full Event Details
2026 marks the 450th anniversary of the death of John Dowland, Elizabethan England's greatest lute-songster. World famous in his own lifetime, Dowland enjoyed widespread fame, aided to no little extent by his four books of songs, published over twenty years to spectacular success.
This programme is devoted to Dowland's First (1597) and Second (1600) Books of Songs or Ayres and takes as its point of departure the Elizabethan court – a murky world indeed of signs and secrets.
Although at first he failed to achieve a coveted court position, Dowland was deeply involved in this world. Elizabeth I would not tolerate open dissent. However, she was an ardent music lover, and commissioning music to be performed for the Queen was a costly and respected present. And so, a tradition arose of courtiers veiling a petition or complaint as a poem, which would be set by a professional musician and performed for the Queen.
Dowland was very active in this process and admits as much in the preface to his first book – flexing his important connections. As a result, many of Dowland's songs abound with double meanings, allusions to be deciphered by those in the know, which have been featured here. Throughout this programme, the hidden signs will be uncovered: Elizabeth's icons (the moon and the goddess Cecilia); her vassals, love and fortune; and the courtly play-acting of Arcadian shepherds, to name a few.
Programme:
Dowland Excerpt from the Prologue to the First Book
Fantasia
Whoever thinks or hopes of love for love
My thoughts are wing'd with hopes
If my complaints could passions move
Earl of Essex Galliard
Sleep wayward thoughts
Go, crystal tears
All ye whom love or fortune hath betrayed
Semper Dowland, semper Dolens
Wilt thou unkind thus reave me
Lute arise and charm the air
I saw my lady weep
O sweet woods
If floods of tears
Robin is to the greenwood gone
Now cease my wand'ring eyes
Robin reddocke
A shepherd in a shade
Clear or cloudy
Performers:
Gwendolen Martin soprano
Clemmie Franks alto
Daniel Thomson tenor
Timothy Dickinson bass
Sam Brown lute
▶Venue Details & Map
Location
St James' Church, London N1
Prebend Street, Islington, London N1 8PF
Other performances
In addition to the performance listed above, this concert will also be performed as follows:
Show past performances of this programme
