John Dowland

John Dowland was an English composer and lutenist born around 1563. He worked during the late Renaissance, writing songs that often carried a melancholic tone. His most famous collection, 'The First Booke of Songes or Ayres,' came out in 1597 and included pieces like 'Come again' and 'Flow, my tears.'

As a Catholic in Protestant England, Dowland faced some professional difficulties. He spent time traveling in Europe, where he encountered Italian and French musical styles. These influences appeared in his later work, which grew more intricate.

Dowland's songs for voice and lute remain his best-known material. Along with 'Come again,' pieces like 'Can she Excuse my Wrongs?' and 'Go Crystal Tears' show his approach to setting poetry to music. The lute was his primary instrument, and he wrote extensively for it.