John Dowland Essentials

An inspiration to Benjamin Britten and Elvis Costello alike, this English Renaissance composer is responsible for some of the most elegantly melancholic music ever composed. Over the years, Dowland has attracted a wide variety of stylists, ranging from countertenor Alfred Deller to pop legend Sting. Dowland's catalogue includes works for solo lute and unaccompanied voice (as well as blends of both). One of his most famous songs, “Flow My Tears”, was a particularly fertile advance for the composer; he later based the multipart Lachrimae on its melody.