Melancholy was one of the fashions of early 17th century England. John Dowland alone became immortal because of the intensely sad Flow My Tears, which can be heard here on CD as the pavane Lachrimae (P.15). Even this heart-wrenching tear-jerk becomes even more beautiful when it is given a playful twist. The world-famous evergreen is therefore directly followed by the Galliard to Lachrimae: the same
… musical ideas, but more lively in movement. One of the most striking expressions of musical sorrow is the chromatic descent; think of Purcell's Dido's Lament or of the Crucifixus from Bach's Mass in B minor. In one of his best compositions, however, Dowland did the exact opposite: a chromatic upward movement. The result, the fantasia titled Farewell, was spectacular. Thomas Weelkes borrowed the end of this Farewell for the phrase 'I'll sing my faint farewell'. But perhaps Dowland also 'stole' this fragment from Weelkes, we are not sure. Lutenist Paul O'Dette also shows Dowland his cheerful and bouncy sides. (HJ)more
