Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares
Lachrimæ or seaven teares figured in seaven passionate pavans, with divers other pavans, galliards and allemands, set forth for the lute, viols, or violons, in five parts is a collection of dance music written for five viols, or violins (that is, members of the violin family) and lute composed by John Dowland. It was published in London in 1604 when Dowland was employed as lutenist to Christian IV of Denmark.
The collection begins with seven Lachrimæ pavans which begin with the first four notes of Dowland's most famous lute solo, which he had already reworked into the song "Flow my tears" in his The Second Booke of Songes or Ayres.[1]
Each of the Lachrimæ pavans was given its own title by the composer, though the significance of each is uncertain.
Lachrimæ Antiquae (lat. Old tears) already existed as a lute solo and a song.
Lachrimæ Antiquae Novæ (lat. Old tears renewed) is a harmonic parody of Lachrimæ Antiquæ.
Lachrimæ Gementes (lat. Sighing tears)
Lachrimæ Tristes (lat. Sad tears)
Lachrimæ Coactae (lat. Forced tears) is a harmonic parody of Lachrimæ Tristes.
Lachrimæ Amantis (lat. A Lover's tears)
Lachrimæ Veræ (lat. True tears)
The title page of the publication is adorned with a Latin epigram: 'Aut Furit, aut Lachrimat, quem non Fortunata beavit' ('He whom Fortune has not blessed either rages or weeps').
The "divers other" compositions included in the Lachrimae publication are: "Semper Dowland semper Dolens", "Sir Henry Umptons Funeral", "M.John Langton's Pavan", "The King of Denmark's Galliard", "The Earl of Essex Galliard" (dedicated to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex), "Sir John Souch his Galliard", "M.Henry Noel his Galliard", "M.Giles Hobies his Galiard", "M.Nicholas Gryffith his Galliard", "M.Thomas Collier his Galliard with 2 Trebles", "Captain Digorie Piper his Galliard", "M.Bucton's Galliard", "Mistress Nichol's Allemand" and "M.George Whitehead his Almand".
[edit] References
Peter Holman with Paul O'Dette. "John Dowland", Grove Music, ed. L. Macy. ISBN 0-333-60800-3
Peter Holman, Dowland: Lachrimae (1604), ISBN 9780521581967
John Dowland, Lachrimae.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Diana Poulton "John Dowland" 2nd Edition University of California Press , 1982, p.124
