Pavans and Fantasies from the Age of Dowland
John Holloway
ECM 4810430 - 0028948104307
The composition of Lachrimae Pavans, one of the great works in the canon of English chamber music, was begun in Denmark at the end of the 16th century, while John Dowland was working as a lutenist at the court of King Christian IV. A unique seven-part work developing a theme from Dowland’s famous song “Flow my teares” and exploring all its contrapuntal and harmonic possibilities, it is also music of persuasive emotional power. “How well he seems to have understood the power of music to move us,” writes John Holloway in the liner notes, and “to express otherwise inexpressible emotions. He called them ‘passionate pavans’, and within the stately constrained movements of the slow dance, passions are indeed to be found.”
The music, according to the title page of the folio volume, is “set forth for the lute, viols or violons”. Choosing to emphasize “violons” Holloway and company play the Dowland Pavans on four violas and bass violin; “As has been said of Dowland, his greatest works are inspired by a deeply felt tragic concept of life and a preoccupation with tears, sin, darkness and death. With that in mind, the choice of instruments made itself.”
In this recording, produced by Manfred Eicher at Zürich’s Radio Studio, John Holloway and his ensemble juxtaposed the Pavans with other pieces by Dowland’s contemporaries, in a programme with strong contrasts of character and sound colour – from Purcell’s extraordinary “Fantasy upon one note” to Thomas Morley’s haunting “Lament” – evoking the great flowering of English instrumental consort music of the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
CD booklet includes liner notes by John Holloway and photographs from the recording.
Deze bijzonder fraai opgenomen cd biedt uitsluitend hoogtepunten binnen de canon van de zeventiende-eeuwse Engelse kamermuziek en is daarom alleen al de aanschaf dubbel en dwars waard
ECM 4810430 - Pavans and Fantasies from the Age of Dowland - John Holloway - Opus Klassiek-
1John Dowland: Lachrimae Antiquae04:19
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2Henry Purcell: Fantasy upon one note02:45
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3Dowland: Lachrimae Antiquae Novae04:01
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4William Lawes: 2 Airs for 403:23
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5Dowland: Lachrimae Gementes03:57
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6John Jenkins: Fantasy No 1203:53
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7Dowland: Lachrimae Tristes05:18
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8Thomas Morley: Lamento for 202:34
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9Dowland: Lachrimæ Coactæ04:00
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10Matthew Locke: Fantasy from “The Broken Consort”04:11
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11Dowland: Lachrimae Amantis04:27
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12Lawes: Fantasy in C for 502:25
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13Dowland: Lachrimae Verae04:10