The Dowland Song Project

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the death of lutenist John Dowland, the greatest song composer of the Elizabethan age. His four collections, published between 1597 and 1612, contain an extraordinary variety of songs ranging from light, humorous dance songs to tragic masterpieces, exploring Dowland's famous melancholic persona.

Most of Dowland's songs are laid out so that they can be performed as solos with lute or as partsongs, and these four-voice versions, rarely performed, form the basis of this educational initiative – the culmination of a project in which three leading Early Music specialists mentor student singers and instrumentalists who are studying the specialised techniques needed for Dowland's music. Philippa Hyde will also contribute some solo lute songs, and there will be lute solos from Elizabeth Kenny and bass viol solos from Reiko Ichise.

Programme:
Dowland
Come, heavy sleep
Can she excuse my wrongs
Come again, sweet love doth now invite
Dowland's Adieu for Master Oliver Cromwell
In darkness let me dwell
Mourn, day is with darkness fled
If floods of tears
The King of Denmark's Galliard
Away with these self-loving lads
Weep you more, sad fountains
Say, Love, if ever thou did'st find
An heart that's broken and contrite
Divisions on Lachrimae Antiquae Pavan
Up merry mates, to Neptune's praise
If that a sinner's sighs
Welcome black night – Cease these false sports

Performers:
Philippa Hyde soprano
Elizabeth Kenny lute
Reiko Ichise bass viol