John Dowland Songs Part 1 by John Dowland Acoustic Guitar - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1904521

John Dowland (c. 1563 – 1626) was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. These four songs of his have all been performed by me with various singers so I can vouch for their ‘playabilty’.

Dowland’s songs divide roughly into two groups verse songs, with a simpler accompaniment and normally in a lighter vein, and through composed songs where the accompaniment follows the lyric with minimum repetition and much variation. I have split the four songs into two volumes: Fine Knacks For Ladies and Say, Love, If Ever Thou Didst Find (the verse songs) in one and Flow My Tears and Sorrow Stay in the other. Dowland was the first singer/songwriter to achieve fame in his lifetime and was known all over Europe.

Volume 1 – the verse songs.

With all songs it is important to remember that the singer must hear what you are doing and the harmony created, which they must rely on for tuning and phrasing. It is not just a matter of getting the notes right, the chords must be clear and strong and the guitar is a quiet instrument (as was the lute) fingering is vital to success. You should remember that Elizabethan music was performed at home where most people could sing and many play instruments such as the lute. The verse songs would have been aimed at this market, including at court.

Because there are a number of verses to these songs you are free to ornament or improvise around the given part. Dowland almost certainly would have done this but I leave the choice to you, the performer. If you need assistance in how to approach this you will find Volume 2 of my tutor helpful.