About

A commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of John Dowland, England's most famous lutenist/composer.

He is one of the big names in the modern revival of early music from the Elizabethan/Jacobean period - even Sting released a CD of Dowland's lute songs: a genre that Dowland helped popularise towards the end of Elizabeth's reign.

He left behind a magnificent body of solo pieces for the lute. Melancholy was a fashionable style of music in that period, and Dowland was a master of it: in fact, his signature song features a musical motif representing a falling tear.

The Minstrels of Melodious Melancholy were assembled by lutenist Michael Fields with Dowland's anniversary in mind: they feature Ingeborg Aadland & Marthe Aa (soprano/alto), Matthew Pope (tenor) and James Tomlinson (bass & lute). The programme draws on the work of Dowland and his contemporaries, with lute songs, 4-part ayres, and lute pieces.

Tickets

£12 at the door
£14 online