Dark Currents

John Dowland (1563-1626) was one of the most prominent English composers of the Elizabethan era, specializing in the elegant melancholy that was the flavor of the day. This is taken from an album of his solo-voice ayres (songs meant for a single voice and usually a lute) recorded in 1999 entitled "In Darkness Let Me Dwell." Tenor John Potter of the Hilliard Ensemble provides vocals and is accompanied by Barry Guy and Maya Homburger. The arrangements are not "authentic" to the time and seem to have offended some early music purists, but I think that the richness of the instrumentation really adds to the mournful mood.

John Dowland - Flow My Tears