John Dowland died some four centuries ago, but the music of the composer and lutenist endures because of its timeless beauty. Toronto Consort celebrates spring, and the finale of their 2025/26 season, with Dowlands music on May 16, 2026.
The concert features British tenor Charles Daniels in a program that spotlights Dowland, along with composers who epitomize the English Renaissance. Daniel Taylor, Director of the Toronto Consort, curated the program in collaboration with Charles Daniels.
Selections include Dowland’s beloved Flow my tears and the Lachrimae, along with his lesser known songs Clear or Cloudy and Stay time awhile thy flying. Also on the program are madrigals and solo songs by his contemporaries, including Thomas Morley and William Mundy.
The concert features Consort artists sopranos Rebecca Genge, Janelle Lucyk, and Sinead White, countertenors Nicholas Burns, Peter Koniers, and Ryan McDonald, tenor William Salinas-Crosby, baritone Alexander Dobson, bass Matthew Li, cellist/gambist Felix Deak, violinist Cristina Prats-Costa, and lutenist/guitarist Kerry Bursey.
John Dowland
English composer, singer and virtuoso lutenist John Dowland was born in London in 1563, and died in the city in 1626. He became one of the most renowned musicians of his era.
As a teenager in 1580, he traveled to Paris to become a servant to the ambassador to the French court. He returned to England to study, and earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Oxford. After his application to become court lutenist was rejected in 1594, he left for continental Europe and traveled to Germany and Italy before returning to England in 1597.
Dowling became lutenist to Christian IV of Denmark in 1598, but was fired from the post due to his conduct in 1606. He was finally appointed one of the court lutenists to James I in 1612.
He composed 88 songs for the lute that were published between 1597 and 1612, and stylistically, they reflect influences from his European travels along with English traditions. In later works, he introduced English audiences to Italian musical elements, including chromaticism and dissonance.
Dowling also composed about 90 works for solo lute, often in dance forms. While he claimed discrimination due to his early conversion to Catholicism, he rose in fame both in the court and beyond. His Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares Figured in Seaven Passionate Pavans, published in 1604, was one of the best known pieces of music of the time.
He also composed several psalms and other sacred songs.
Despite his fame, Dowling has become best known for his sad songs and introspective music. He signed his works “Semper Dolens, Semper Dowland” (Always doleful, always Dowland).
Charles Daniels
Tenor Charles Daniels has developed an international reputation as a vocalist, and in particular, an interpreter of Baroque and early music.
Born in Salisbury, UK, he became a Chorister and Choral Scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, and studied at the Royal College of Music in London. Daniels has made more than 90 recordings, including Dowland’s songs, and is a frequent soloist with The King’s Consort.
His performing career has taken him to prominent stages across North America and Europe, including regular appearances at the BBC Promenade Concerts. He has previously performed with Toronto Consort in a program of Schütz.
Concert Details
Now Is The Month Of Maying takes place May 16 at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre’s Jeanne Lamon Hall.
- Find other concert details and tickets [HERE].
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