A Plea in Allegiance: Dowland’s Music through Travels and a Letter
Dowland's letter, treason, adventure, and compositions as well as by his french, italian, and flemish contemporaries and students for soprano, 2 renaissance lutes, and a cittern.
November 10th, 1595, Nuremberg: John Dowland pens a desperate letter to Sir Robert Cecil, pleading his innocence. While admitting he had adopted Catholicism, Dowland vehemently professes his loyalty to Queen Elizabeth I. He even reports on English friars encountered during his travels who allegedly plotted against the Queen.
This program delves into the intriguing journey of Dowland as outlined in his letter, tracing his footsteps through Paris, Italy, and Hessen. We will explore Dowland's unwavering devotion to the Queen through music that features or references her, highlighting his faithfulness shown both in his compositions and his writings.
Featuring historical settings and our own arrangements for voice, two lutes, and cittern, the program showcases the works of Dowland himself alongside those of his esteemed contemporaries: Jean-Baptiste Besard, Luca Marenzio, Gregorio Huwet, and Pierre Guédron. The performance will be made in a style of storytelling, and excerpts of the letter will be read.
A detailed program notes or translation of the letter can be provided upon request.