John Dowland
Born: 2nd January 1563, London
Died: 20th February 1629, London
Nationality: English
John Dowland was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep", "Come again", "Flow my tears", "I saw my Lady weepe", "Now o now I needs must part", and "In darkness let me dwell". His instrumental music has undergone a major revival, and with the 20th century's early music revival, has been a continuing source of repertoire for lutenists and classical guitarists.
Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dowland
Browse: Dowland
Further Reading: Dowland
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Thomas Dunford and Lea Desandre on Songs of Passion
23rd Dec 2025
The lutenist and mezzo discuss their Presto Award-winning album of music by Dowland and Purcell, their own first encounters with both composers as teenagers, and some of the friends and family-members who played a part in the project.
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Iestyn Davies on singing Dowland
28th Mar 2014
British countertenor Iestyn Davies talks to Presto's David Smith about his new Dowland recording, The Art of Melancholy, out on 31st March on Hyperion Records.
All Genres: Dowland
Chamber
Instrumental
Vocal
Choral
Popular Works: Dowland
- A Fancy (45)
- Can she excuse my wrongs? (First Booke of Songes, 1597) (104)
- Captain Digorie Pipers Galliard (51)
- Come again, sweet love doth now invite (80)
- Come away, come, sweet love (26)
- Come heavy sleep (44)
- Fine knacks for ladies (53)
- First Booke of Songes (1597) (38)
- Flow my teares (Lacrimæ) (105)
- Forlorn Hope Fancy (Fantasie No. 2) (36)
- Fortune my foe (29)
- Frog Galliard (61)
- Galliard to Lachrimae (22)
- Go Crystal tears (32)
- I saw my Lady weepe (46)
- If my complaints could passions move (42)
- In darkness let me dwell (71)
- Lachrimae Antiquae (40)
- Lachrimae Pavan, P. 15 (106)
- Lachrimae Verae (23)
- Lady Hunsdon's Puffe (46)
- Melancholy Galliard (40)
- Mr Dowland's Midnight (40)
- Mr John Langton's Pavan (24)
- Mrs Winter's Jump (34)
- My Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home (51)
- Now, O now, I needs must part (53)
- Preludium (23)
- Queen Elizabeth, her Galliard (40)
- Say love if ever thou didst find (27)
- Second Booke of Songs (37)
- Semper Dowland Semper Dolens (66)
- Sir Henry Umpton's Funeral (21)
- Sir John Smith, His Almain (45)
- Sorrow, stay (42)
- Tarleton's Riserrectione (40)
- The Earl of Essex's Galliard (60)
- The King of Denmark, His Galliard (52)
- Time stands still (35)
- Weepe you no more, sad fountaines (23)
Recent Best Sellers: Dowland
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Special offer. The Passinge mesures | Music of the English virginalists
Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord)
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BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2018, Instrumental Choice
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Limelight Magazine Recordings of the Year, 2019, Nominated - Instrumental
CD: Original price $17.50 Reduced $8.75Download from $10.75 -
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Rise
Jess Gillam (saxophones)
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2020, Nominee - Instrumentalist of the Year
Presto CD: $17.00Download from $10.00 -
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Special offer. Schubert: Death and the Maiden
Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin) The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
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Grammy Awards, 60th Awards (2017), Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
CD: Original price $20.25 Reduced $15.59Download from $6.50 -
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Amidst the Shades
Ruby Hughes, Jonas Nordberg, Mime Yamahiro Brinkmann
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Gramophone Magazine, March 2026, Editor's Choice
SACD: $17.75 -
New Releases: Dowland
View all new releases-
New. The Kronborg Collection - Music in Denmark (1550–1650)
Bo Holten, Musica Ficta
8 CDs: Original price $64.75 Reduced $58.27Download from $56.00 -
New. Countertenor
Anthony Roth Costanzo (countertenor), Chelsea Lane (harp), Coleman Itzkoff (cello), Colin Brookes (viola), Eleonore Oppenheim (contrabass bass), Landon Wilson (keyboards), Miranda Cuckson (viola), Paul Wonjin Cho (horn, bass clarinet, clarinet), Yasmina Spiegelberg (bass clarinet, clarinet), Dušan Balarin (lute, electric guitar, theorbo, vibraphone), Amir Farsi (flute), Keir GoGwilt (violin), Alex Bender (trumpet), Burt Mason (trombone), Dan Schlosberg (keyboards, harpsichord), David Cossin (drums), Nicolee Kuester (horn)
CD: Original price $14.75 Reduced $13.86Download from $10.00 -
New. Softest Thunder
Toby Carr (lute)
CD: $22.50Download from $11.00 -
New. Naulet Nau: Nöels Anciens Et Musique Baroque
Louise Tixier, Alban Tixier
CD: $20.25Download from $9.25
Future Releases: Dowland
View all future releases-
Coming soon. Seven Tears
Thélème, Jean-Christophe Groffe, Sting
CD: $17.25Download from $10.25 -
Coming soon. Nocturnal Journey
Kanahi Yamashita
CD: $19.50Download from $10.00 -
Coming soon. A Fancy (Extended Version)
Bor Zuljan (lute)
Download from $9.25 -
Coming soon. Dowland
Andreas Martin
Download from $11.00
