Dowland, John

(1562-1626)

English lutenist, singer, and composer, one of the greatest musicians of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras and one of the greatest songwriters of Western music. He held musical posts in Paris and Germany, and from 1598 to 1606 he was lutenist to Christian IV of Denmark.

In 1612 he obtained a long-desired appointment in England as one of the king's lutenists, a post he held until his death. His lute songs display sensitive text declamation; the accompaniments are subordinate, yet possess some melodic independence. His First Book of Songs or Ayres (1597) was the most often reprinted music book of its time.

The melancholy downward scale at the opening of his song “Flow my tears” was widely imitated at the time by other composers, becoming a common and instantly recognizable motif. The quality of Dowlands songs was influential in establishing the art song in its modern sense as a genre.