Captaine Piper his Galiard
Lachrima Antiqua
Coranto Were every thought an eye
The Earle of Essex Galiard
Lachrima Antiqua Nova
M. Henry Noell his Galiard
Lachrima Gementes
M. John Langtons Pavan
M. George Whitehead his Almand
Lachrima Tristes
Dowland's Adew for Master Oliver Cromwell
Lachrima Coacta
Lachrima Pavan pour luth
Galiard to Lachrima, pour luth
Lachrima Amantis
Sir John Souch his Galiard
Lachrima Vera

British lutenist Nigel North joins viol consort Les Voix humaines for Lachrimae, a new recording of John Dowland’s 1604 compositions set for lute and viols. Passionate pavans, galiards, and almands evoke the tears referred to in the title.



Replete with many musical effects, dissonances and suspensions, the same melancholic subjects reappear throughout Dowland’s compositions: the agonies of the soul, night, and darkness. This “tear” motif first appeared in the pavan Lachrimae for lute and served as the basis for seven “passionate” pavans in the 1604 collection recorded on this new album.