Composer

:

John Dowland

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Average_duration

:

1:42

'Come away, P 60' is a lute song composed by John Dowland, a prominent English Renaissance composer and lutenist. The song was composed in the early 17th century and was first published in Dowland's collection of lute songs, 'The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires' in 1603. The song is written in the key of G major and consists of four verses, each with a refrain. The melody is accompanied by a lute, which provides a delicate and intricate harmonic framework for the vocal line. The song is characterized by its melancholic and introspective mood, which is typical of Dowland's music. The lyrics of 'Come away' are a lament for lost love, with the speaker urging his beloved to leave behind the pain of their separation and join him in a world of eternal love and happiness. The refrain, "Come away, come sweet love," is a plea for the beloved to abandon the world of sorrow and join the speaker in a world of blissful love. The song is divided into four movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement is slow and mournful, with the lute providing a gentle accompaniment to the vocal line. The second movement is more lively and rhythmic, with the lute providing a more complex and intricate accompaniment. The third movement is slower and more introspective, with the vocal line and lute intertwining in a delicate and intricate dance. The final movement is a reprise of the first, with the vocal line and lute returning to the mournful and melancholic mood of the opening. Overall, 'Come away, P 60' is a beautiful and haunting example of Dowland's artistry as a composer and lutenist. Its delicate and intricate harmonies, combined with its melancholic and introspective mood, make it a quintessential example of English Renaissance music.

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