 Flow my tears by John Dowland harmonized by Pierre Calmelet for 4 mixed voices is originally, at its publication in 1604, a "lute song" for a countertenor voice accompanied by the lute. This piece, very well known since Alfred Deller's historical interpretation of it, also exists in instrumental versions for solo lute or viola da gamba quintet: it is the first of 7 pavanes lachrimae, which are themselves part of a set of dances with other pavanes, gaillardes and allemandes. To realize this choral adaptation, Pierre Calmelet was inspired by the superb melodic lines of the viols of gamba which are perfectly in tune with the voices. |
