Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 1. Unquiet thoughts
2. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 2. Who ever thinks of hopes of love
3. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 3. My thoughts are wing'd with hopes
4. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 4. If my complaints could passions move
5. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 5. Can she excuse my wrongs
6. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 6. Now, O now, I needs must part
7. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 7. Dear, if you change
8. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 8. Burst forth my tears
9. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 9. Go crystal tears
10. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 10. Think'st thou then by thy feigning
11. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 11. Come away, come sweet love
12. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 12. Rest awhile, you cruel cares
13. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 13. Sleep, wayward thoughts
14. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 14. All ye, whom Love or Fortune hath betray'd
15. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 15. Wilt thou unkind thus reave me
16. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 16. Would my conceit
17. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 17. Come again: sweet love doth now invite
18. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 18. His golden locks
19. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 19. Awake, sweet love
20. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 20. Come, heavy Sleep
21. The Firste Booke of Songes or Ayres of Fowre Parts: 21. Away with these self-loving lads

Disc 2:

1. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 1. I saw my Lady weep
2. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 2. Flow my tears
3. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 3. Sorrow, stay
4. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 4. Time's eldest son
5. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 5. Mourn, mourn, Day is with darkness fled
6. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 6. Time's eldest son
7. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 7. Then sit thee down
8. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 8. When others sing Venite
9. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 9. Praise blindness eyes
10. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 10. O sweet woods
11. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 11. If floods of tears
12. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 12. Fine knacks for ladies
13. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 13. Now cease my wand'ring eyes
14. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 14. Come ye heavy states of night
15. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 15. White as lilies was her face
16. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 16. Woeful heart
17. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 17. A shepherd in a shade
18. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 18. Faction that ever dwells
19. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 19. Shall I sue
20. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 20. Toss not my soul
21. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 21. Clear or cloudy
22. The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts: 22. Humour say what mak'st thou here

Disc 3:

1. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 1. Farewell, too fair
2. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 2. Time stands still
3. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 3. Behold a wonder here
4. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 4. Daphne was not so chaste
5. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 5. Me, me, and none but me
6. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 6. When Phoebus first did Daphne love
7. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 7. Say, Love, if ever thou didst find
8. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 8. Flow not so fast, ye fountains
9. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 9. What if I never speed?
10. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 10. Love stood amazed
11. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 11. Lend your ears to my sorrow
12. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 12. By a fountain where I lay
13. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 13. O what hath overwrought
14. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 14. Farewell, unkind
15. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 15. Weep you no more, sad fountains
16. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 16. Fie on this feigning!
17. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 17. I must complain
18. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 18. It was a Time when silly bees
19. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 19. The lowest trees have tops
20. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 20. What poor astronomers are they
21. The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires: 21. Come when I call

Disc 4:

1. A Pilgrimes Solace: 1. Disdain me still
2. A Pilgrimes Solace: 2. Sweet stay awhile
3. A Pilgrimes Solace: 3. To ask for all thy love
4. A Pilgrimes Solace: 4. Love, those beams that breed
5. A Pilgrimes Solace: 5. Shall I strive with words to move?
6. A Pilgrimes Solace: 6. Were every thought an eye
7. A Pilgrimes Solace: 7. Stay, Time, awhile thy flying
8. A Pilgrimes Solace: 8. Tell me, true Love
9. A Pilgrimes Solace: 9. Go nightly cares
10. A Pilgrimes Solace: 10. From silent night
11. A Pilgrimes Solace: 11. Lasso vita mia
12. A Pilgrimes Solace: 12. In this trembling shadow cast
13. A Pilgrimes Solace: 13. If that a sinner's sighs
14. A Pilgrimes Solace: 14. Thou mighty God
15. A Pilgrimes Solace: 15. When David's life
16. A Pilgrimes Solace: 16. When the poor cripple

Disc 5:

1. A Pilgrimes Solace: 17. Where sin sore wounding
2. A Pilgrimes Solace: 18. My heart and tongue were twins
3. A Pilgrimes Solace: 19. Up merry mates
4. A Pilgrimes Solace: 20. Welcome black Night
5. A Pilgrimes Solace: 21. Cease, cease these false sports
6. Lachrimae Pavan
7. Can shee [excuse], arrangement for harpsichord (after J. Dowland; Fitzwilliam Virginal Book)
8. Paduana for organ
9. The Frogge, arrangement for harpsichord (after Dowland)
10. Frog's Galliard, arrangement for harpsichord (after Dowland; from Anne Cromwell's Virginal Book)
11. Work(s): Unspecified Pavana and Galiarda
12. Paduana Lachrymae, for keyboard (after J. Dowland)
13. Tisdale's Virginal Book: Can She Excuse (Tisdale Virginal Book)
14. Solus cum sola, pavan for lute, P 10
15. Dowland's Almayne, for keyboard or lute
16. Work(s): Piper's Paven / Galliard
17. Pavan & Galliard ('Lachrymae'), for keyboard (pavan by Dowland, Galliard by Harding; arr. by Byrd), MB 54-55: Pavana Lachrymae

Disc 6:

1. Mr Henry Noell Lamentations: 1. The lamentation of a sinner
2. Mr Henry Noell Lamentations: 2. Domine ne in furore
3. Mr Henry Noell Lamentations: 3. Miserere mei Deus
4. Mr Henry Noell Lamentations: 4. The humble suit of a sinner
5. Mr Henry Noell Lamentations: 5. The humble complaint of a sinner
6. Mr Henry Noell Lamentations: 6. De profundis
7. Mr Henry Noell Lamentations: 7. Domine exaudi
8. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Lachrimae Antiquae
9. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Lachrimae Antiquae Novae
10. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Lachrimae Gementes
11. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Lachrimae Tristes
12. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Lachrimae Coactae
13. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Lachrimae Amantis
14. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Lachrimae Verae
15. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Mr John Langton's Pavan
16. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Mr Nicholas Gryffith his Galiard
17. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Sir John Souch his Galiard
18. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Semper Dowland Semper Dolens
19. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Mr Giles Hobies Galiard
20. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: The King of Denmark's Galiard
21. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Sir Henry Umpton's Funerall
22. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Mr Henry Noell his Galiard
23. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: The Earl of Essex Galiard
24. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Mr Bucton his Galliard
25. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Mr George Whitehead his Almand
26. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Captaine Digorie Piper his Galiard
27. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Mr Thomas Collier his Galiard
28. Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, for 5 viols/violins & lute: Mrs Nichols Almand

Disc 7:

1. Sorrow, come!, sacred song for soprano & 4 viols
2. I shame at mine unworthiness, sacred song for 5 voices
3. An heart that's broken and contrite, sacred song for 4 voices & mixed consort
4. Psalm 100: All people that on earth do dwell (I), for soprano, alto, tenor & bass
5. Psalm 38: Put me not to rebuke O Lord, for soprano, alto, tenor & bass
6. Psalm 130: Lord to thee I make my moan (I), for tenor & organ
7. Psalm 104: My soul praise the Lord, for 4 voices
8. Psalm 100: All people that on earth do dwell (II), for countertenor, 3 viols & organ
9. Psalm 134: Behold and have regard, for 4 voices
10. A Prayer for the Queen's most excellent Majesty, for voices, viols & organ
11. Solus cum sola, pavan for lute, P 10
12. Lachrimae Pavan, for keyboard or lute (from 'Lachrimae')
13. Work(s): Work(s)~Unspecified Galliard
14. Pipers Pavan, for lute (after Dowland)
15. Lachrimae, for lute, P 15
16. The Right Honourable the Lady Rich, her Gaillard (Dowland's Bells), for lute, P 43
17. Earl of Essex, his Galliard, for lute, P 89
18. If my complaints, for lute
19. Lachrimae Doolande, instrumental music
20. My Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home, for lute, P 66
21. My Lord Chamberlain his Galliard, for 2 to play on 1 lute, P 37
22. Comagain ('Come again') (after John Dowland)
23. Variations on Dowland's Pavane Lachrimae, for recorder & continuo
24. Variations on Dowland's Pavane Lachrimae, for recorder & continuo

Disc 8:

1. Preludium, for lute, P 98
2. Lachrimae, for lute, P 15
3. Can she excuse (The Right Honourable Robert, Earl of Essex, his Galliard), galliard for lute, P 42
4. Dr Case's Pavan, for lute, P 12
5. Mellancoly Galliard, for lute, P 25
6. Sir John Smith, his Almain, for lute, P 47
7. Fantasia, for lute in G minor, P 71 (possibly spurious)
8. A Dream, pavan for lute, P 75 (possibly spurious)
9. Almain, for lute, P 96
10. Queene Elizabeth, her Galliard (The Queen's Galliard), for lute, P 97
11. Coranto, for lute, P 100
12. Resolution, pavan for lute, P 13
13. Mrs Vaux Galliard, for lute, P 32
14. Almain, for lute, P 49
15. Mr Dowland's Midnight, almain for lute, P 99
16. Fantasia, for lute in G major, P 1
17. Loth to depart, song arranged for lute, P 69
18. The Most Sacred Queen Elizabeth, her Galliard (Katherine Darcy's Galliard), for lute, P 41
19. Can she excuse (The Right Honourable Robert, Earl of Essex, his Galliard), galliard for lute, P 42
20. Pavan, for lute in G minor, P 18
21. John Dowland's Galliard, for lute, P 21
22. Aloe, ballad setting for lute, P 68
23. The Right Honorable Lady Cliftons Spirit, for lute, P 45
24. What if a day, ballad setting for lute, P 79 (possibly spurious)
25. Mr Giles Hobie's Galliard, for lute, P 29
26. Come away, song arranged for lute, P 60
27. Galliard, for lute in F minor, P 27
28. Fantasia, for lute in G minor, P 6

Disc 9:

1. Lachrimae, for lute, P 15
2. Galliard to Lachrimae, for lute, P 46 (A Pilgrimes Solace)
3. Jig, for lute in C minor, P 78 (possibly spurious)
4. Galliard (on 'Walsingham'), for lute in G minor, P 31
5. Complaint, for lute, P 63
6. Galliard, for lute in C minor, P 35
7. Semper Dowland semper dolens, pavan for lute, P 9
8. The Frog Galliard, for lute, P 23
9. Fantasia, for lute in D minor, P 72 (possibly spurious)
10. Fantasia, for lute in D minor, P 5
11. Piper's Pavan, for lute, P 8
12. Captain Digorie Piper's Galliard, for lute, P 19
13. Lady Laiton's Almain, for lute, P 48
14. Dowland's Galliard, for lute, P 20
15. Dowland's First Galliard, for lute, P 22
16. Tarleton's Jig, for lute, P 81 (possibly spurious)
17. Walsingham, song arranged for lute, P 67
18. My Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home, for lute, P 66
19. Sir Henry Guilford his Almain, for lute (probably authentic)
20. Pavan, for lute in G minor, P 16
21. Mr Langton's Galliard, for lute, P 33
22. Mrs Clifton's Almain, for lute, P 53
23. Galliard, for lute in F minor, P 76 (possibly spurious)
24. Lady Hunsdon's Almain (Lady Hunsdon's Puffe), for lute, P 54
25. Galliard (on 'Awake sweet love'), for lute in D major, P 24
26. Go from my window, song arranged for lute, P 64
27. Fantasia, for lute, P 73 (possibly spurious)

Disc 10:

1. Pavana (Pavana Johan Douland), for lute in C minor, P 94
2. Mrs Brigide Fleetwood's Pavan (Solus sine sola), for lute, P 11
3. La mia Barbara, pavan for lute, P 95
4. Sir Henry Umpton's Funerall, for lute
5. Lachrimae, for lute (arrangement by Francis Cozens)
6. Farewell Fancy (Chromatic fantasia), for lute, P 3
7. Farewell (on 'In Nomine'), fantasia for lute, P 4
8. The King of Denmark, his Galliard, for lute, P 40
9. Mrs Vaux's Jig, for lute, P 57
10. Mrs Nichol's Almain, for lute, P 52
11. Galliard, for lute in G minor, P 30
12. Lord Strang's March, song arranged for lute, P 65
13. Mrs Winters Jump, fo lute, P 55
14. Can she excuse, galliard arrangement for lute, P 89 (possibly spurious)
15. The Shoemaker's Wife, a Toy, for lute, P 58
16. Mrs Norrish's Delight, for lute, P 77 (possibly spurious)
17. Galliard, for lute in C minor, P 35
18. Mrs White's Thing (Mrs White's Choice), almain for lute, P 50
19. Mrs White's Nothing, for lute, P 56
20. The Frog Galliard, for lute, P 90 (possibly spurious arrangement)
21. Solus cum sola, pavan for lute, P 10
22. The Right Honourable Lord Viscount Lisle (Sir Robert Sidney, his galliard), for lute, P 38 (A Musical Banquet)
23. Orlando Sleepeth, arrangement for lute, P 61
24. Robin (Bonny Sweet Robin), ballad arranged for lute, P 70
25. Galliard (on a galliard by Daniel Bacheler), for lute in C minor, P 28
26. Forlorn Hope, fantasie for lute, P 2

Disc 11:

1. The Lady Russell's Pavan, for lute, P 17
2. Fantasia, for lute in G minor, P 7
3. Mr John Langton's Pavan, for lute, P 14
4. The Earl of Derby's Galliard, for lute, P 44
5. A Coy Toy, for lute, P 80 (possibly spurious)
6. Fortune My Foe, song arranged for lute, P 62
7. Almain, for lute, P 51
8. Mr Knight's Galliard, for lute, P 36
9. Sir John Souch his Galliard, for lute, P 26
10. Tarleton's Resurrection, for lute, P 59
11. The Right Honourable the Lady Rich, her Gaillard (Dowland's Bells), for lute, P 43
12. The First Booke of Consort Lessons (1599): Lachrimae Pavan (after Dowland)
13. The First Booke of Consort Lessons (1599): Can she excuse Galliard (after Dowland)
14. The First Booke of Consort Lessons (1599): Captain Piper's Pavan and Galliard (after Dowland)
15. The First Booke of Consort Lessons (1599): The Frog Galliard (after Dowland)
16. Round Battle Galliard, for lute, P 39
17. Fortune My Foe, song arranged for lute, P 62
18. Work(s): Dowland's First Galliard (from Cambridge manuscript part books, c. 1600)
19. The Most Sacred Queen Elizabeth, her Galliard (Katherine Darcy's Galliard), for lute, P 41
20. Tarleton's Jig, for lute, P 81 (possibly spurious)
21. Almain a 2, for consort duo
22. Mrs Nichols Almain a 2, for consort duo
23. Susanna Fair, for consort
24. Mrs Nichols Almand (Mistress Nichols Almand), for 5 viols/violins & lute (from 'Lachrimae')
25. Opusculum neuwer Pavanen, Galliarden, Couranten unnd Volten: Mr john Langton Pavan and Galliard (after Dowland)
26. Opusculum neuwer Pavanen, Galliarden, Couranten unnd Volten: La mia Barbara Pavan and Galliard (after Dowland)
27. Opusculum neuwer Pavanen, Galliarden, Couranten unnd Volten: Lachrimae Antiquae Novae Pavan and Galliard (after Dowland)

Disc 12:

1. Mrs Nichol's Almain, for lute, P 52
2. Volta (fromTaffel-Consort)
3. Were every thought an eye, for 4 voices & lute (A Pilgrimes Solace)
4. Lady if you so spite me, for voice, lute & bass viol (A Musical Banquet)
5. Work(s): Unspecified Pavan à 4 (from Thomas Simpson: Taffel-Consort 1621)
6. My heavy sprite oprest with sorrowes might, for voice & lute
7. Change thy mind since she doth change, song (No. 2 in the collection A Musicall Banquet)
8. O eyes, leave off your weeping, song (No. 3 in the collection A Musicall Banquet)
9. Go, my flock, go get you hence, song (No. 4 in the collection A Musicall Banquet)
10. O dear life, when shall it be?, song (No. 5 in the collection A Musicall Banquet)
11. To Plead My Faith, galliard for lute (No. 25 from Selected Works for Lute)
12. In a grove most rich of shade, song (No. 7 in the collection A Musicall Banquet)
13. Far from the triumphing court, for voice, lute & bass viol (A Musicall Banquet)
14. Lady if you so spite me, for voice, lute & bass viol (A Musical Banquet)
15. In darkness let me dwell, for voice, lute & bass viol (A Musicall Banquet)
16. Si le parler et le silence
17. Ce penser qui sans fin tirannise ma vie
18. Vous que le Bonheur rappelle
19. Passava Amor su arco desarmado
20. Sta notte mi sognava
21. Vuestros ojos tienen d'amor
22. Se di farmi morire, voce e liuto
23. Dovrò dunque morire
24. Amarilli mia bella, for voice & continuo (from 'Le Nuove musiche')
25. O bella più, for voice & lute

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #68807 in Music
• Released on: 2007-03-13
• Number of discs: 12
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .75 pounds

Customer Reviews

A musical treasure-box
Both the music and this actual product are masterpieces. John Dowland's collected works here - covering 12 compact discs - exhibit the depth and power of this composer, a composer who many now regard as suffering from clinical depression. I doubt that the issue of the diagnosis of Dowland's depression can ever be settled, however, it is certainly obvious from his music, so completely on display here, that he was a man with very dark depths and corners in his mind. Dowland's various manifestations and "takes" on his own tune, "Flow my tears"/"Lachrimae" are here. This tune has haunted me ever since I first heard it when I was a child. It seems to sum up Dowland's feelings - at least Dowland seems to have thought so.

The First, Second, Third and Fourth Bookes of Songes, A Musicall Banquet, the keyboard transcriptions, all the lute music, consort music are here and virtually everything else written or supposedly written by John Dowland. Anthony Rooley and The Consort of Musicke perform this music with style and feeling throughout. This 12 CD set is something of a monument to the ensemble - I only wish they'd finished their collection of Monteverdi madrigals, which was equally good (La Venexiana are currently doing a magnificent job of recording all Monteverdi's books of madrigals for the GLOSSA label).

This is an expensive set, however, you will probably never need to buy another John Dowland CD again after buying and listening to this collection.

I bought this CD set on a mild Summer evening of 1998 and listened to it while sitting in my sun room - which a glorious orange sunset in progress, and a glass of wine. It brought back so many memories.

The greatest songs ever?
I heard 'clear or cloudy', from this recording, on the radio recently and had to purchase it. It is strange but it is the sort of song that makes life prior to listening to it different from life after. I find it sad that so many people haven't heard it. There are also many other wonderful works in this collection. Given you get twelve well recorded CDs with top quality performances, this has to be one of the bargains of the age.

Please buy it.

a beautiful journey into melancholy
I'm amazed at how many people tend to associate John Dowland's music with a tragic sense of drama. While no doubt this is art highly based on sadness, the "tragic" sense of it is more a legacy from the Romantic period. During the Renaissance, however, sadness was undestood as a very aesthetic way of approaching life. That is also the reason why Shakespeare's tragedies appear more sophisticated than his comedies.

Dowland, a contemporary of Shakespeare, discovered that meditating on a sad theme is, at the same time, a way of discovering a special beauty that we tend to avoid (maybe because of the "tragic" heritage of the Romantics). So, in the end, meditating on sadness is an uplifting experience! This box set is a journey into melancholy that includes songs, chamber music, pieces for lute, some rare sacred music and -as a highlight- Dowland's beautiful collection of seven pieces for viola which he called "Lachrimae" (Tears).