The lyrics were written by George Peele for Sir Henry Lee (1530-1610). In 1559 Lee made a vow to defend Elizabeth’s honour against all challengers in an annual tournament to be held on her birthday. By 1590 he was too old to tilt, and in this song he makes his complimentary and graceful withdrawal. Sir Henry was Elizabeth’s Champion for 30 years, and retired at age 60.
John Dowland wrote the music, and published it in The First Booke of Songs or Ayres (1597).
In Dulci Jubilo (14th Century German)
Veni veni Emanuel (Lyrics 9th Century, music 15th Century French)
Quem Pastores Laudavere (14th Century German)
Ther is no Rose of Swych Vertu (15th Century English)
Verbum Caro Factum Est (Piae Cantiones, 16th century)
Nova Nova (15th Century English)
Lo How a Rose (15th Century German)
Salutation Carol (15th Century English)
Gaudete, Christus est natus (Piae Cantiones, 16th century)
The image is the broadside ballad of Unto the Prophet Jonas I Read. The excellent recording by The Baltimore Consort inspired this arrangement.
Did you ever sing this Christmas carol and wonder why that refrain was there? It always seemed wrong to me. When I started researching it I discovered why. The “rising of the sun and the running of the deer” refrain was added long after the carol was written. I took it out.
This is my favorite motet. I have seen many settings, but none that built up the parts the way I wanted to preform it.
I wanted to perform some of the Susato dances without flipping pages to find them, so I set these three together. The salterelle is often played after the ronde with the same melody, but I thought it would be more interesting to play another ronde between them.
I arranged this Martin Luther hymn for a commission. My patron wanted a German Christmas carol that could be sung by the congregation.
This John Dowland song is one of my favorite to perform.
This is my documentation for the arrangement: Documentation – Come Away
The setting I use is here: Come Away Come Sweet Love