Dowland, John
1562 - Born on Westminster, London, England. English composer, virtuoso lutenist, and skilled singer, one of the most famous musicians of his time.
1580 - He went to Paris as a “servant” to Sir Henry Cobham, the ambassador to the French court.
1588 - He received a bachelor of music degree from the University of Oxford.
1594 - His conversion to Roman Catholicism, he believed, caused his rejection for a post as a court lutenist, and after that disappointment he left England to travel on the Continent.
1597 - His travels also took him to Nürnberg, Genoa, Florence, and Venice, and he had returned to England.
1598-1606 - Dowland became lutenist to Christian IV of Denmark, but he was dismissed for unsatisfactory conduct.
- His famous Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares Figured in Seaven Passionate Pavans, became one of the most widely known compositions of the time.
1610-1612 - His through-composed songs as "In Darkness Let Me Dwell", "From Silent Night", and "Lasso vita mia", he introduced the Italian declamatory style, chromaticism, and dissonance; no alternative four-voice versions are given.
- He entered the service of Theophilus, Lord Howard de Walden, and he was appointed one of the “musicians for the lutes” to James I.
1626 - He died on January 21st in London.
1580 - He went to Paris as a “servant” to Sir Henry Cobham, the ambassador to the French court.
1588 - He received a bachelor of music degree from the University of Oxford.
1594 - His conversion to Roman Catholicism, he believed, caused his rejection for a post as a court lutenist, and after that disappointment he left England to travel on the Continent.
1597 - His travels also took him to Nürnberg, Genoa, Florence, and Venice, and he had returned to England.
1598-1606 - Dowland became lutenist to Christian IV of Denmark, but he was dismissed for unsatisfactory conduct.
- His famous Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares Figured in Seaven Passionate Pavans, became one of the most widely known compositions of the time.
1610-1612 - His through-composed songs as "In Darkness Let Me Dwell", "From Silent Night", and "Lasso vita mia", he introduced the Italian declamatory style, chromaticism, and dissonance; no alternative four-voice versions are given.
- He entered the service of Theophilus, Lord Howard de Walden, and he was appointed one of the “musicians for the lutes” to James I.
1626 - He died on January 21st in London.
Page last updated: 6:09pm, 07th Apr '07