EMS: Dowland and his travels across Europe

[DracoM]

Dowland's Grand Tour: Saturday 3rd August 2013

As part of the celebrations of the 450th anniversary of the birth of John Dowland, Catherine Bott talks to American lutenist Paul O'Dette about Dowland's travels around Europe, and the lutenist-composers he met en route, such as Melchior Neusidler, Simone Molinari and Gregorio Huwet.

The music comes from O'Dette's late night solo recital at the National Centre for Early Music, as part of the York Early Music Festival.

[ This is the first part of the weekend's Dowland programmes on EMS. The second programme is on Sunday 4th Aug. ]

[Black Swan]

I was at the concert at the York EMF. This was a fantastic concert and well worth hearing again.

[Richard Tarleton]

Paul O'Dette's wise words on technique and practice are expanded upon at great length in his talk reproduced in no 106 of "Lute News", the Lute Society's "Dowland 450th Anniversary Bumper Issue", full of stuff about Dowland but you have to subscribe. A lovely conversation with Catherine. I liked the story of how his recital came about - the missed message, Jakob Lindberg sitting at his computer when the call came. Happily these lutenists are all good friends. I have a great CD of lute duets by O'Dette and Lindberg from 1986, BIS CD - 267.

Likewise Lucie's with Emma Kirkby and Jacob Heringman. I knew Lucie was a fine singer and fiddle player, but am even more impressed following her letting slip that she studied lute with Diana Poulton at the RCM.

[doversoul1]

Richard
I thought a Dowland EMS might entice you back. Welcome back.

Yes, both programmes and the way in which they were presented were most interesting to a non-musician like me, too. Although I must have read or heard it somewhere, it came as a surprise to me that Dowland travelled so widely. Robin Blaze and, Elizabeth Kenny’s In darkness let me dwell was exquisite (as always).

[Richard Tarleton]

Richard
I thought a Dowland EMS might entice you back. Welcome back.

Yes, both programmes and the way in which they were presented were most interesting to a non-musician like me, too. Although I must have read or heard it somewhere, it came as a surprise to me that Dowland travelled so widely. Robin Blaze and, Elizabeth Kenny’s In darkness let me dwell was exquisite (as always).

Thanks dover! Yes R Blaze gorgeous voice.

Rose Tremain's "Music and Silence" about a fictional English lutenist at the court of the King of Denmark (supposedly Dowland's successor) is a good read. It was while he was in Rome that he accidentally fell in with some Catholic plotters, and had to write his famous grovelly letter to Cecil - this escapade probably cost him the top job at Elizabeth's court. O'Dette also reminded us about Dowland's admiration for Marenzio.

[BBMmk2]

Now this is one programme I will have to catch up on! Thanks Doversoul!

[doversoul1]

BBM
I’m sorry, but this is the programmes from the previous week.

Richard
Re: ‘Music and Silence’. Wasn’t this book mentioned, I think, during the Baroque Spring season, with a secret staircase, or was it a different book? I remember checking it but it seemed to be a collector’s item then (from the price). I checked it again and here it is. £6.74 New.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Silence-Rose-Tremain/dp/0099268558/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376296592&sr=1-1

The order has been placed. Thank you for your recommendation.

[Kyle]

How do I listen to this interview? What link might I need. I am new here, but would very much like to hear this interview.

[Richard Tarleton]

How do I listen to this interview? What link might I need. I am new here, but would very much like to hear this interview.

Welcome, Kyle!

I found it on the Radio 3 homepage, but sadly it looks as if the programme is no longer available - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b037t48y

There have been other Dowland threads recently - http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...owland-records,

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...or-Seven-Tears,

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?7226-BaL-12-01-13-The-music-of-John-Dowland

[AuntDaisy]

Hi Kyle. I've sent you a PM.

A podcast of the second EMS programme is available on the BBC website (for UK listeners); sadly it's been cut to 30 minutes.

[Richard Tarleton]

Thanks AuntDaisy.

An account of Dowland's travels across Europe is of course to be found in Diana Poulton's "John Dowland", though locating a copy these days may prove difficult - 2 "new" copies of the 1982 edn going for £1,162 on Amazon , paperback from £57. I got lucky a few years ago.