- Fact 2 - Date of Birth: Dowland was
born was born in 1563 - There are no records of his exact date
of birth
- Fact 3 - Place of Birth: London
- Fact 4 - Full Name: John Dowland
- Fact 5 - Lifespan: 1563-1626
- Fact 6 - Little is known about his
early years but John Dowland clearly came from a wealthy, well
connected family who provided him with a good education.
- Fact 7 - Before attending
university John Dowland spent four years at the court of France
with the English ambassadors
- Fact 8 - Education: John Dowland
attained a Bachelor of Music from Christ Church, Oxford
University
- Fact 9 - John Dowland travelled
around Italy and went to Rome in 1594 taking music lessons
with the famous musician Luca Marenzio
- Fact 10 - John Dowland was an
accomplished lute player and composer of music and songs for the
lute
- Fact 11 - He then travelled to
Germany working for the Duke of Brunswick and then obtained an
appointment at the court of King Christian IV of Denmark
- Fact 12 - John Dowland married but
the name of his wife is unknown. He was the father of Robert
Dowland
- Fact 13 - John Dowland returned to
England in 1612 and obtained a position as a lute player at the
court of King James I of England - there are rumours that he
worked for Sir Robert Cecil as a spy at the various European
courts he visited
- Fact 14 - John Dowland performed
during the funeral ceremonies of King James I
- Fact 15 - Date of Death: John
Dowland died in February 1626 and was buried at St Anne,
Blackfriars, on February 20, 1626
- Fact 16 - His types of compositions and works included
Fantasias, and dance-movements, including music for Pavanes,
Galliards, Almains and Jigs
- Fact 17 - His music lives on and
the musical works of this famous composer and musician include the following:
- Lachrimae or Seaven Teares Figured in Seaven Passionate
Pavans, a set of 7 for 5 viols and lute and for his song "Flow,
my tears"
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