John Dowland (1563 – buried 20 February 1626) was an English Renaissance composer, singer, and lutenist. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep" (the basis for Benjamin Britten's Nocturnal), "Come again", "Flow my tears", "I saw my Lady weepe" and "In darkness let me dwell", but his instrumental music has undergone a major revival, and has been a source of repertoire for lutenists and classical guitarists during the twentieth century.
Read more about John Dowland: Career and Compositions, Publications, Suspicions of Treason, Private Life, Modern Interpretations, In Popular Culture
Famous quotes containing the words john and/or dowland:
“How soon I may ride the whole world about;
And at the third question thou must not shrink,
But tell me here truly what I do think.””
—Unknown. King John and the Abbot of Canterbury (l. 30–32)
“Come away, come sweet Love,
The golden morning breakes:
All the earth, all the ayre,
Of love and pleasure speakes.”
—John Dowland (1562–1626)