Est 1923

Dowland Lute Works, Vol 3

The suites Dowland never got round to compiling, but they work perfectly

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: John Dowland

Genre:

Instrumental

Label: Naxos

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 66

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: 8 570449

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Pavans, Movement: Solus cum sola, P10 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Galliards, Movement: Melancholy Galliard, P25 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Almains, Movement: Sir John Smith his Almain, P47 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Pavans, Movement: The Lady Russell's Pavan, P17 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Galliards, Movement: The Right Honourable Lady Rich, her Galliard, P43 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Almains, Movement: Doulants Almande, P48 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Pavans, Movement: Mrs Brigide Fleetwoods Pauen, 'Solus sine sola', P11 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Galliards, Movement: Mr Knights Galliard, P36 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Almains, Movement: Mrs Cliftons Allmaine, P53 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Pavans, Movement: Dr Cases Pauen, P12 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Galliards, Movement: The Lord Viscount Lisle (Sir Robert Sidney) his Galliard, P38 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Sir Henry Guilforde his Almain John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Pavana Doulandi Angli John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Galliards, Movement: The Right Hon Ferdinando Earle of Darby, his Galliard, P44 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Almains, Movement: Almain, P51 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Pavans, Movement: La mia Barbara, P95 (Schele MS) John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Galliards, Movement: The Battle Galliard (The King of Denmarke his Galliard), P40 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Almains, Movement: Almain, P49 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Pavans, Movement: Pauana Johan Douland, P94 (Schele MS) John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Galliards, Movement: Galliard (upon a galliard by Dan Bachelar), P28 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Almains, Movement: An Almand, P96 (Margaret Board Lute Book) John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
As lutenist Nigel North points out in the booklet-notes to this highly diverting release, the three main dances of the Elizabethan era were the Pavan, Galliard and Almain. In 1604 Dowland published his Lachrimae or Seaven Teares for viol consort with lute, which collection contained all three. But he never brought out anything similar for solo lute. Here, North has done the job for him by forming seven “suites”, each featuring dances drawn from Dowland’s vast oeuvre for the solo instrument. The results are wholly satisfying.

Like the dances in Bach’s keyboard suites, these pieces were written not for dancing but for listening. So there’s plenty of room for a flexible approach. Consequently, many of the Almains are hardly the heavy dance it was supposed to be – witness the grace and lightness of Lady Laiton’s Almain. And the Galliards are not always as brisk and vigorous as you’d expect: compare North’s beautiful interpretation of Sir Robert Sidney, His Galliard with the unexpected spring of the Melancholy Galliard. The Battle Galliard, where shakes and other ornaments ring out over drones like cannon and soldiers’ cries over a corpse-strewn battlefield, is quite another matter again.

The more lengthy and substantial Pavans which start each suite are especially impressive – like the gorgeous Pavan Solus cum sola, which opens the disc in a melancholy-tinged major mode; or its shadow, the minor-key Solus sine sola; or the brooding Pavana Doulant. Needless to say that here, as throughout the disc, North’s sweet-toned playing is both unfailingly musical and highly imaginative.

Dowland Lute Works, Vol 3

Pavans, Movement: Solus cum sola, P10

Galliards, Movement: Melancholy Galliard, P25

Almains, Movement: Sir John Smith his Almain, P47

Pavans, Movement: The Lady Russell's Pavan, P17

Galliards, Movement: The Right Honourable Lady Rich, her Galliard, P43

Almains, Movement: Doulants Almande, P48

Pavans, Movement: Mrs Brigide Fleetwoods Pauen, 'Solus sine sola', P11

Galliards, Movement: Mr Knights Galliard, P36

Almains, Movement: Mrs Cliftons Allmaine, P53

Pavans, Movement: Dr Cases Pauen, P12

Galliards, Movement: The Lord Viscount Lisle (Sir Robert Sidney) his Galliard, P38

Sir Henry Guilforde his Almain

Pavana Doulandi Angli

Galliards, Movement: The Right Hon Ferdinando Earle of Darby, his Galliard, P44

Almains, Movement: Almain, P51

Pavans, Movement: La mia Barbara, P95 (Schele MS)

Galliards, Movement: The Battle Galliard (The King of Denmarke his Galliard), P40

Almains, Movement: Almain, P49

Pavans, Movement: Pauana Johan Douland, P94 (Schele MS)

Galliards, Movement: Galliard (upon a galliard by Dan Bachelar), P28

Almains, Movement: An Almand, P96 (Margaret Board Lute Book)

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