Little is known of this Irish (or English) composer’s early life. He was probably born in London.



He attained his fame by his excellent lute playing, although he was rejected by Elizabeth I as a court musician because he was allegedly a Catholic. He travelled widely in Europe and, in 1598, he was appointed lutenist at the court of Christian IV of Denmark.





He was forced by debt to return to England in 1606 and eventually he was made one of the King's musicians in 1612.



Dowland was a composer of church, instrumental and secular vocal music, in particular of one of the best known songs of the period, "Flow my Teares". He himself provided an apt pun on his own name - Dowland, semper dolens (Dowland, always grieving) - although he had a reputation as a cheerful man.