An undercurrent of quiet melancholy runs throughout the songs of John Dowland (1563 – 1626), the English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer who was employed by the court of Christian IV of Denmark before returning to London to serve James I. The poet Richard Barnfield wrote that Dowland’s “heavenly touch upon the lute doth ravish human sense.”
Dowland’s Time Stands Still, published in 1603 as part of The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires, is the most poignant of love songs. This 2006 recording features English soprano and early music specialist Emma Kirkby, accompanied by lutenist Anthony Rooley:
The song’s words are by an anonymous author:
Time stands still with gazing on her face,
stand still and gaze for minutes, houres and yeares, to her give place:
All other things shall change, but shee remaines the same,
till heavens changed have their course & time hath lost his name.
Cupid doth hover up and downe blinded with her faire eyes,
and fortune captive at her feete contem’d and conquerd lies.When fortune, love, and time attend on
Her with my fortunes, love, and time, I honour will alone,
If bloudlesse envie say, dutie hath no desert.
Dutie replies that envie knowes her selfe his faithfull heart,
My setled vowes and spotlesse faith no fortune can remove,
Courage shall shew my inward faith, and faith shall trie my love.
Recordings
- Dowland: Time Stands Still, Emma Kirkby, Anthony Rooley Amazon
Featured Image: “The Lute Player” (1596), Caravaggio
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