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John Dowland was the finest lute-player of his age, and perhaps the first ‘modern’ songwriter in the sense of a composer bringing a highly romantic and individual sensibility to the setting of words for solo voice. As a soloist employed at a number of European courts, his life was nomadic and unsettled. A spendthrift, he died in poverty, though amongst the highest paid musicians of his age. Against this background, it is not hard to suppose that the darkness of many of his songs reflects in some way a turbulent personal life of which much remains a mystery.

 

Since the 1920s, when the original volumes of The English School of Lutenist Song Writers were issued, Dowland’s vocal music has occupied an important position in the Stainer & Bell catalogue, and the continuing popularity of his three books of airs, and the songs from A Pilgrimes Solace and A Musicall Banquet, plus selections of fifty songs in two volumes (each available for high or low voice) testify to his enduring popularity with singers. Composers, too, have responded to his music, Britten, Tippett and Harrison Birtwistle amongst others having written major works in which Dowland’s art is a strong creative influence.

 

A PDF file with a complete alphabetical listing of individual songs can be found here, together with a list of the anthologies which include works by John Dowland.

Dowland titles published by Stainer & Bell

These titles can be ordered in our online shop where you will also find prices and further information. The reference number links take you to the item in our shop where full contents and pricing details are given.

Choral

Ayres for 4 voices. SATB. Musica Britannica. Newly edited by David Greer. (Ref. MB6)
Ayres. SATB. Selection taken from Musica Britannica Volume 6. Invitation to the Partsong Book 6. (Ref. B334)
Come again! Sweet love doth now invite. SATB (Ref. JP2)
Fine knacks for ladies. SATB (Ref. JP4)
Psalms, complete. SATB (Ref. B168)

 

 

 

 

Lutesong

These four volumes contain the Lute Songs performed on the latest CD by Sting ('Songs From The Labyrinth').

First Book of Ayres (1597). Lutesongs (Ref. LS1)
Second Book of Songs (1600). Lutesongs (Ref. LS2)
Third Booke of Songs (1600). Lutesongs (Ref. LS3)
Pilgrims Solace, A (1612). and Three Songs from A Musicall Banquet. Lutesongs (Ref. LS4)

 

 

 

 

Solo Songs

Songs, Fifty, Book 1. High Voice (Ref. X5A)
Songs, Fifty, Book 1. Low Voice (Ref. X5B)
Songs, Fifty, Book 2. High Voice (Ref. X6A)
Songs, Fifty, Book 2. Low Voice (Ref. X6B)