John Dowland Essay
John Dowland: One of the Most Famous Composers of the Renaissance
When people think of the music from the Renaissance they will most likely think of pieces written in Italy. While many pieces were created there, there were several pieces written in England as well. The most notable composer from England was John Dowland. Dowland had an interesting musical background and composed numerous pieces that still resonate with people today.
Much of John Dowland’s life is lost to us today but what we do know is fascinating nonetheless. There is very little known about his early life outside of his birth in London 1563 and that he studied the ‘ingenious profession of Musicke’ from childhood. In 1580 he travelled to Paris as a servant to Sir Henry Cobham, an ambassador on the French court and in 1588 Dowland graduated from the University of Oxford with a bachelor of music. Hoping to become a lutenist for the English court he applied for the job but it was ultimately …show more content…
Throughout his life he travelled to Wolfenbüttel, Nürnberg, Genoa, Florence and Venice. While in Italy he planned to meet and study under the famed composer Luca Marenzio who worked for the Medici family. However, he abandoned his plan after some incidents on his trip. Thus, he shortened his trip and made his way to Denmark in 1598. There he became the lutenist to King Christian IV and spent nearly a decade in Scandinavia. Yet serving the Danish king did not stop Dowland from travelling between Denmark and London. His extended stays in London substantially annoyed the king and in 1606 Dowland was dismissed from Christian IV’s court. After Dowland returned to London he was appointed as a lutenist to King James I and Dowland remained at this position until his own death in 1626. Even though he had travelled for much of his life Dowland always published his numerous collections of music in his hometown of
When people think of the music from the Renaissance they will most likely think of pieces written in Italy. While many pieces were created there, there were several pieces written in England as well. The most notable composer from England was John Dowland. Dowland had an interesting musical background and composed numerous pieces that still resonate with people today.
Much of John Dowland’s life is lost to us today but what we do know is fascinating nonetheless. There is very little known about his early life outside of his birth in London 1563 and that he studied the ‘ingenious profession of Musicke’ from childhood. In 1580 he travelled to Paris as a servant to Sir Henry Cobham, an ambassador on the French court and in 1588 Dowland graduated from the University of Oxford with a bachelor of music. Hoping to become a lutenist for the English court he applied for the job but it was ultimately …show more content…
Throughout his life he travelled to Wolfenbüttel, Nürnberg, Genoa, Florence and Venice. While in Italy he planned to meet and study under the famed composer Luca Marenzio who worked for the Medici family. However, he abandoned his plan after some incidents on his trip. Thus, he shortened his trip and made his way to Denmark in 1598. There he became the lutenist to King Christian IV and spent nearly a decade in Scandinavia. Yet serving the Danish king did not stop Dowland from travelling between Denmark and London. His extended stays in London substantially annoyed the king and in 1606 Dowland was dismissed from Christian IV’s court. After Dowland returned to London he was appointed as a lutenist to King James I and Dowland remained at this position until his own death in 1626. Even though he had travelled for much of his life Dowland always published his numerous collections of music in his hometown of