Come Again by John Dowland

John Dowland (1563 - 1626) is likely the most well known lute player and composer of the late 16th century. He studied music beginning in his early childhood, but we really don't know much about his activities until 1594 when he applied to a court post in England as a lutenist - a post for which he was not chosen. He did however become incredibly successful over the next 20 years holding a variety of court positions, publishing several collections of songs. He was famous throughout Europe for his artistry and skill so much so that he was dubbed "the English Orpheus". For more information about John Dowland's life, please visit the links in the sources below the videos.


"Come Again: Sweet Love doth Now Invite" is found in Mr. Dowland's First Booke of Songes or Ayres of foure partes with Tabletrure for the Lute (1597). This collection of 21 songs and one instrumental piece was instantly successful and set a precedent for years to come. It had five separate printings in Dowland's lifetime and triggered many similar efforts from other well known lutenist/composers, many imitating Dowland's First Booke . . . right down to the number and types of songs in their publications.


"Come Again" is a personal favorite of this author. The lyrics are delightfully lovely, romantic, and tragic at the same time making it typical of the bittersweet, melancholy Downland style.

Come again! sweet love doth now invite
Thy graces that refrain

To do me due delight,

To see, to hear, to touch, to kiss, to die,

With thee again in sweetest sympathy.

Come again! that I may cease to mourn
Through thy unkind disdain;

For now left and forlorn

I sit, I sigh, I weep, I faint, I die

In deadly pain and endless misery.

All the day the sun that lends me shine
By frowns doth cause me pine

And feeds me with delay;

Her smiles, my springs that makes my joy to grow,

Her frowns the winter of my woe.

All the night my sleeps are full of dreams,
My eyes are full of streams.

My heart takes no delight

To see the fruits and joys that some do find

And mark the stormes are me assign'd.

But alas, my faith is ever true,
Yet will she never rue

Nor yield me any grace;

Her Eyes of fire, her heart of flint is made,

Whom tears nor truth may once invade.

Gentle Love, draw forth thy wounding dart,
Thou canst not pierce her heart;

For I, that do approve

By sighs and tears more hot than are thy shafts

Do tempt while she for triumphs laughs.

The popularity of John Downland's music is still high today amongst those who follow early music, especially lutenists and acapella choirs. Thus, for your viewing and listening pleasure, following are three versions of "Come Again". 


The first, a lovely choir version "Come Again" by The Stairwell Carollers (of Ottowa, ON, Canada) as directed by Pierre Massie, which showcases the beauty of each of the SATB parts of this madrigal.





The second is a consort version of "Come Again" by the Chicago Early Music Consort featuring Stephanie Sheffield (vocals), Gary Berkenstock (recorder), Joel Spears (lute), and Dr. Phillip W. Serna (bass viol).





The third video is by well known musical artist Sting (yes, that Sting) as accompanied by lutenist Edin Karamazov at the 10th International Guitar Festival Belgrade, Serbia.





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SOURCES:


HOASM:  http://www.hoasm.org/IVM/Dowland.html
NAXOS:  http://www.naxos.com/person/John_Dowland_26007/26007.htm
HYPERTEXTS:  http://www.thehypertexts.com/john%20dowland%20poet%20poetry%20picture%20bio.htm
LYRICS:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Again_(Dowland)
SHEET MUSIC:  Guitar - SATB

We Be Soldiers Three

Thomas Ravenscroft (1582/92 - 1635) was an English composer and editor who is well known for his rounds and catches compositions and for his compilations of British folk music.  The selected piece, We Be Soliders Three, is from Ravenscroft's Deuteromelia which is dated in 1609 and is a collection of catches and rounds. Interestingly, a song still well known today is also found in that collection:  Three Blind Mice.

Here is a version of the song from YouTube by Owain Phyfe's (and the rest of the New World Renaissance Band):



If you are interested, here is a more modernized version by Coyote Run from YouTube:



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SOURCES AND REFERENCE:

Lyrics Here at Digital Tradition Mirror

Fascimile of Deuteromelia here at Greg Lindahl's site

Thomas Ravenscroft on Wikipedia

Thomas Ravenscroft on HOASM

"So fill to me the parting glass . . ."

The Parting Glass is a traditional Irish/Scot folk song that made it's first appearance in print in the 1770s in a Broadside Ballad book called Scots Songs. It was also recorded in the Skene Manuscript which is a collection of Socttish airs written between 1615 and 1635. Ot was also in Playford's Original Scots Tunes which is dated 1700.

Part of the first stanza of The Parting Glass appears in the early 1600s in a farewell letter as a poem now known as "Armstrong's Goodnight" by a prisoner who was executed in 1605 for the murder of Sir John Carmichael in the year 1600. This early lyric appearance shows that The Parting Glass was a part of Scot/Irish culture long before it was ever inked in public print.

Rhe Parting Glass was often sung a the end of a gathering of friends. It is claimed to be the most popular song sung in Scotland and Ireland before the composition of Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns in 1788. It is most known today from it's feature in the film Waking Ned Divine. In addition, it is the most sought-after Irish traditional search on about.com's "goireland" website.

The first video below is the Waking Ned Divine version by Shaun Davey. It is a moving rendition with a voiceover from the film, wonderful instrumentation, and solid traditional sounding vocals. The second video is a moving concert version by The High Kings. It has been recorded by over 20 artists since 1959 including Bob Dylan, The Pogues, Sinéad O'Connor, Shaun Davey, The High Kings, and Loreena McKennitt.

"So fill to me the parting glass. Good night, and joy be with you all."

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SOURCES and REFERENCE:

http://www.contemplator.com/ireland/pglass.html  (warning! plays music with no off switch)

http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/Olson/  (verification of inclusion in Broadside Ballads books)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Parting_Glass  (lyrics)

http://goireland.about.com/od/irishtradandfolkmusic/qt/irishfolkpartin.htm

http://www.shaundavey.com/index.html

http://www.thehighkings.com/

George Grove & John Alexander Fuller-Maitland, Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, The Macmillan Company, 1908, pg. 479.

Six Noëls Anciens

Six Noëls , Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643 - 1704), circa 1693, French Baroque

Commonly known as Or Nouse Dites Marie (so they say!)

Many of the French carols that are known today, were not originally Christmas poetry. Instead they were songs of feasting and rejoicing with little or not sacred content or intent. The earliest forms of the Noël make appearance in 15th century manuscripts. However, the Noël was not widely popular until it was spread around France in the 16th century by printing presses.

These Noëls were likely written by known poets and were possibly old airs now set to music or commissioned music for aristocrats and special events. They represent an effort to bring "good and godly" ballads back into the mainstream of popular music in France in the 16th century.

Like many early English Carols, the French Noëls were often written half in Latin and half in the native language of the area. Here is a sample lyric:

Mille esprits angéliques,Juncti pastoribus,Chantent dans leur musique,Puer vobis natus,Au Dieu par qui nous sommes,Gloria in excelsis,Et la paix soit aux hommesBonae voluntatis.

The composer of our Six Noëls, Marc-Antoine Charpentier was a French composer who was believed to come from a family of royal painters. He studied in Rome in the mid 1600's for a few years and returned to Paris where he became maître de musique at the residence of Marie de Lorraine, Mademoiselle de Guise. While there, he composed many motets, Psalms, and other sacred music. He remained at this post until 1688 when the Mademoiselle died. When Molière separated from Lully in 1672, Charpentier was taken on as musical collaborator to Molière where he composed prologues, entr'actes, and other music for Molière. Louis XIV was so pleased with Charpentier's theater music, the composer was granted pension.

Over the years, Charpentier served in musical posts at Jesuits' St. Louis Church and Saint Chapelle. He also taught music to Philippe, Duke of Chartres. Charpentier died in 1704 but not without leaving a tremendous legacy in his published works and non-published manuscripts.

I hope you enjoyed Mr. George Becker's rendition of these lovely Noëls. You can hear more of him on clavichord and other instruments at his YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/sfbonedoc

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Sources:

Sacred Texts: Chapter 3, Christmas Poetry (II)

http://www.sacred-texts.com/time/crt/crt06.htm

CD Universe (Composer, Period, and Date)

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6972630/a/Baroque+Christmas+Album.htm

HOASM

http://www.hoasm.org/VIIB/Charpentier.html

The Coventry Carol (Lully, lullay)

Watch the first part of the video to get one version of the history and origin of the song, then read on while the song plays (then play it again to look at the artwork slideshow!)

"The Coventry Carol" aka "Lully, lullay) is a well known English carol that many do not realize (a) did not technically start as a Christmas song, (b) may date as far back as the year 1392 but is commonly referred to as being 16th Century in origin, and (c) almost became extinct in 1875. The song melody is commonly credited to Anonymous (1591), and the lyrics to Robert Croo (1534).

As the introduction to the video states, "The Coventry Carol" was first commonly performed in Coventry, England in the 16th Century. It is a hymn that was written to depict Mary's sorrow over the impending death of her (approximately) 2 year old son, Jesus as required by King Herrod's edict that all infant boys in Bethlehem be put to death - not very Christmas-like. In fact, in the 16th century, it was performed as part of a play at the annual Shearmen and Tailors Guild annual Christmas pageant (1). That performance along with the fact that it is related to the Feast of the Holy Innocents (also called Childermas) (2) which is celebrated on December 28, and that the song is about the infant Jesus are all contributors to "The Coventry Carol" becoming a standard Christmas carol.

There are several discrepancies about when "Lully, lullay" was first performed at the Shearman and Tailors Guild Annual Christmas Pageant ranging from 1392 to 1591. One source claims the first mention of the song was in 1392 in reference to the Drapers Guild and the Coventry Mystery Plays which were usually played on Corpus Christi Day. Others say that 1521 is the correct year of origin since it is the earliest known printed rendition of the song lyrics which appeared in the play performed at the Coventry pageant. Yet another source says that 1534 is the earliest appearance in the Coventry play and another claims it to be 1591. Other sources even claim it to be 15th century in origin (3). Whether it is 14th, 15th, 16th, or some combination of these, the song was well known and liked in its early period time as it is today.

In 1875, there was a library fire that destroyed the only completely legible ancient copy of "Lully, lullay". (4) All the versions we hear and play today are based on two early 19th transcriptions that were badly made and therefore not fully legible in musical score or lyrics. Despite this, many vocalists have recorded the song professionally and even more have sung it locally at their churches and schools.

Much like the song's clouded history, it is a somewhat dark and sorrowful Christmas song often presented in the key of B flat. It's final note is flexible. It can be settled on the minor, leaving the listener in that same state of sorrow suggested throughout the melody; or it can be lifted to the major, offering the listener a small glimmer of hope.

Lyrics: http://www.lizlyle.lofgrens.org/RmOlSngs/RTOS-CoventryCarol.html (scroll to the bottom)

Sheet Music: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coventry_Carol.png (in 4 parts)

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(1) Coventry Carol Timeline: http://www.google.com/search?q=coventry+carol+history&hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&prmd=iv&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=ZfcGTYymOYTGlQeH3uz1DQ&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=11&ved=0CHAQ5wIwCg

(2) http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/269793/Feast-of-the-Holy-Innocents

(3) http://blog-by-the-sea.typepad.com/blog_bythesea/2005/12/lully_lullay_th.html

(4) http://www.lizlyle.lofgrens.org/RmOlSngs/RTOS-CoventryCarol.html

Christmas Song "Cantiga de Santa Maria"

If you are unfamiliar with the "Cantigas de Santa Maria" and are a fan of early period music, I highly recommend you look it up. The "Cantigas de Santa Maria" are medieval manuscripts written during the reign of Alfonso X "El Sabio" (1221-1284). They are one of the largest collections of monophonic songs from the middle ages, and most of them tell stories of the Miracles performed by Saint Mary. "El Sabio" was one of the first (and best) folklorists of all time. He knew of the stories of Saint Mary and sent people out to hear them, scribe them, and bring them back. He then had those stories illuminated (illustrated) and written as song. Once he had a large collection, they were bound in a book called "Cantigas de Santa Maria" which means "Canticles (Hymns or Songs) of Holy Mary". The melodies are very early period and the illuminations are beautiful. Here is a good starting point for you to learn more: http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/cantigas/