(born 1562/63, Westminster, London, Eng. — died Jan. 21, 1626, London) English composer and lutenist. Educated at Oxford, he was refused a court position in 1594 and, believing his adoptive Catholicism had been the cause, he left for the continent. There he traveled extensively and took a position at the Danish court. In 1612, when his compositions had made him famous, he was finally appointed lutenist to the English court.//
Peo Kindgren plays John Dowland's Lachrimae Pavan
Alfred Deller sings "Flow my tears"
// Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare
Romeo:
Why such is loues transgression.
Griefes of mine owne lie heauie in my breast,
Which thou wilt propagate to haue it preast
With more of thine, this loue that thou hast showne,
Doth adde more griefe, to too much of mine owne.
Loue, is a smoake made with the fume of sighes, //
// Lyrics - "Flow My Tears"
Flow my tears fall from your springs, Exilded for euer : let mee mourne, Where nightes black bird hir sad infamy sings, There let mee liue forlorne.
Downe vaine lightes shine you no more, No nightes are dark enough for those That in dispaire their lost fortuns deplore, Light doth but shame disclose.
Neuer may my woes be relieued, Since pittie is fled, And teares and sighes and grones my wearie dayes Of all ioyes haue depriued.
From the highest spire of contentment My fortune is throwne, And feare and griefe and paine for my deserts Are my hopes since hope is gone.
Harke you shadowes that in darkness dwell, Learne to contemne light Happie happy they that in hell Feele not the worlds despite. //
