JOHN DOWLAND`S LUTE SONGS: THIRD AND FOURTH BOOKS WITH ORIGINAL TABLATURE
BY: JOHN DOWLAND, DAVID NADAL

DESCRIPTION:
-ONE OF THE FEW ENGLISH MUSICIANS WHOSE FAME AS A COMPOSER SPREAD THROUGHOUT EUROPE DURING HIS LIFETIME, JOHN DOWLAND (1563–1626) WAS ALSO UNSURPASSED IN HIS DAY AS A LUTE VIRTUOSO. THE COMPOSER OF 88 LUTE SONGS, DOWLAND HAD TWICE APPLIED FOR THE POSITION OF LUTENIST AT THE COURT OF ELIZABETH I AND WAS REJECTED BOTH TIMES — FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS, IT WAS THOUGHT. (HE HAD CONVERTED TO CATHOLICISM DURING A PROTESTANT REIGN.) HIS TALENTS, HOWEVER, WERE WELCOMED AT COURTS IN GERMANY, VENICE, FLORENCE, AND DENMARK. SINCE THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, DOWLAND`S EXCELLENCE AS A SONG WRITER HAS BEEN WELL ESTABLISHED; AND MANY OF HIS COMPOSITIONS FOR LUTE — LONG SHROUDED IN OBSCURITY — HAVE BECOME WELL KNOWN.

-THIS COLLECTION OF 45 SONGS INCLUDES ALL THE WORKS IN HIS ORIGINAL THIRD BOOKE OF SONGS OR AIRES; IN A PILGRIME`S SOLACE (HIS FOURTH COLLECTION); THREE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS SON ROBERT`S A MUSICALL BANQUET; PLUS A LOVELY GALLIARD — A DANCE FOR SOLO GUITAR.
TOGETHER WITH NADAL`S LUTE SONGS OF JOHN DOWLAND (FIRST AND SECOND BOOKS), PUBLISHED IN 1997, THIS COMPILATION COMPLETES DOVER`S NEWLY EDITED AND ENGRAVED EDITIONS OF DOWLAND`S LUTE SONGS — A RICH OEUVRE SURE TO BE STUDIED AND ENJOYED BY SINGERS, GUITARISTS, AND MUSIC LOVERS ALIKE.

DOVER ORIGINAL.