Ever Dowland, ever sorrowing: a lamentation
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| Cheer up, the worst is yet to come! |
Arranged from the transcription in Poulton D & Lam B. 1995. The collected lute music of John Dowland. Faber Music, London. The beaming of the notes follows P&L closely.
[Note on 6 Nov 2020: bars 33 – 35 revised.]
I normally transcribe from the lute tablature, rather than from the notation, as the fingering on the upper strings is quite similar to that of the ukulele. This meant that, for this piece, the arrangement was in E, and entailed some awkward fingering. However, once I transposed to D, the actual key of the original, all fell into place.
The pavan comprises three strains. Bars 17 – 18 are strongly reminiscent of bar 45 in Dowland's "Farwell" (P 3), but which is the earlier I don't know. Diana Poulton describes the passage in bars 22 – 25 thus: "... its broken and repeated falling phrases ... is a particularly moving expression of a poignant and deeply felt emotion." I think, though, that from bar 27 I can detect a certain optimism.
The lute part in a consort version by Dowland has a much sparer ending, which is appended. Since it ends on an F#, I have done the same with the main piece here. You might want to use the alternative ending anyway, as it is more desolate, and possibly more suitable to the ukulele’s limited range.
In the MIDI file I have taken the stately tempo of 35 bpm from Nigel North’s performance on the more sonorous lute. The sprightliness of the uke does, however, make it difficult to sustain the lines and suggest an appropriate melancholy. A good test of your playing! (It sounds more melancholy on the Renaissance guitar.)
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