John Dowland's Lacrimae
Throughout September, the Daily Classical Music Post celebrates the music of 15th-, 16th-, and 17th-century England. https://youtu.be/1MomSASPDP0 John Dowland (1563–buried 20 February 1626) was born a Protestant, but he apparently converted to Catholicism when he was 17 and went to France as a "servant" to the ambassador to the King of France. As he never made a big deal out of his conversion, this didn't stop him becoming favored by a member of Elizabeth I's court. Although he did spend several years in the employ of the king of Denmark, he was not subject to the penalties with which many recusants (those who remained loyal to the Roman Catholic Church and did not support the Church of England) had to deal. His best known instrumental work, Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, Figured in Seaven Passionate Pavans, a set of seven pavanes for five viols and lute, was based on the theme derived from his very popular lute song "Flow my tears." It became one of the best ...