Dowland, John (1563-1626), was an English composer during the Renaissance. He was also considered one of the best lute players of his time. The lute is a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and is played like a guitar. Dowland composed many songs for voice accompanied by the lute. “Flow my tears,” from his Second Book of Airs (1600), was one of the most famous pieces of its time. Dowland’s beautiful songs are often on dark and melancholy subjects. He also wrote religious songs, difficult lute solos, and dances for lute and Renaissance bowed instruments called viols.
Dowland may have been born in London. He graduated from Oxford University and performed at the court of Elizabeth I. Dowland served various foreign rulers, notably the king of Denmark from 1598 to 1606, when he returned permanently to England. In 1612, he became court lutanist to King James I. He died on Jan. 21, 1626.
