Melancholy private lute music by John Dowland from Margaret Board’s Lute Book cicra 1620. The “Preludium” begins simply but quickly develops into a more demanding and dynamic piece.

This is an instrumental version of the lute song ‘Now, oh now I needs must part’. It takes the frog name from the French suitor of Queen Elizabeth I, the Duc d’Anjou. It is lively and energetic.

Fantasia No. 7 is a brilliant showcase of John Dowland’s compositional and technical prowess, demonstrating a joyful and vibrant side that contrasts with his more famous sad songs. It is a highly contrapuntal work, built on the elaborate development of short musical motives and featuring demanding, virtuosic passages. Published in 1610, it is a key example of the expressive lute music that bridged the Renaissance and Baroque eras.