Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares
Encyclopedia
Lachrimæ or seaven teares figured in seaven passionate pavans, with divers other pavans, galliard
s and allemands, set forth for the lute, viols, or violons, in five parts is a collection of dance music written for five viol
s, or violin
s (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 pavan
s 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
.
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".
Galliard
The galliard was a form of Renaissance dance and music popular all over Europe in the 16th century. It is mentioned in dance manuals from England, France, Spain, Germany and Italy, among others....
s and allemands, set forth for the lute, viols, or violons, in five parts is a collection of dance music written for five viol
Viol
The viol is any one of a family of bowed, fretted and stringed musical instruments developed in the mid-late 15th century and used primarily in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The family is related to and descends primarily from the Renaissance vihuela, a plucked instrument that preceded the...
s, or violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s (that is, members of the violin family) and lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
composed by John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland was an English Renaissance composer, singer, and lutenist. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep" , "Come again", "Flow my tears", "I saw my Lady weepe" and "In darkness let me dwell", but his instrumental music has undergone a major revival, and has...
. It was published in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1604 when Dowland was employed as lutenist to Christian IV of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
The collection begins with seven Lachrimæ pavan
Pavan
Pavan may refer to:* Pavan , a slow processional dance* Pavan , a god of wind in Hindu mythology and father of HanumanPeople with the given name Pavan:* Pavan Duggal...
s 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
Flow my tears
Flow my Tears is a lute song by the accomplished lutenist and composer John Dowland.Originally composed as an instrumental under the name Lachrimae pavane in 1596, it is Dowland's most famous ayre, and became his signature song, literally as well as metaphorically: he would occasionally sign his...
" in his The Second Booke of Songes or Ayres
The Second Booke of Songes or Ayres
The Second Booke of Songes or Ayres is a book of lute songs composed by Renaissance composer John Dowland. It was originally published in the year 1600 with the titleThe Second Booke of Songes or Ayres, of 2.4. and5...
.
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
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG was an English nobleman and a favourite of Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, and a committed general, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599...
), "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".