Υπάρχει ένα κλισέ με το οποίο σύστηνα σε φίλους τον μεγάλο αναγεννησιακό τροβαδούρο : «τα τραγούδια του ακούγονται σαν να γράφτηκαν χθες. Νιώθεις ότι αφορούν εσένα και τη ζωή σου».
Οι λάτρεις της κλασικής θα αντέτειναν ότι εξ ίσου αφορά τη ζωή μας ένα συμφωνικό έργο, και θα είχαν δίκιο. Απλώς, μέσα απ’ τα τραγούδια του Dowland, πέρα απ’ την ψευδαίσθηση της χρονικής απόστασης, γίνεται επίσης αντιληπτό ότι η “λόγια μουσική” δεν είναι ένα είδος απόρθητου κάστρου όπως την θέλουν κάποιοι, ένας αρχαίος θησαυρός που τον φυλάει κάποιος δράκος…
Ακούμε το ‘Flow My Tears’ για φωνή και λαούτο του John Dowland, από την παραγωγή του Manfred Eicher για την ECM. Ερμηνεύει ο John Potter.

There is a cliché by which I used to introduce the songs of the great Renaissance troubadour to friends : «His songs sound like they were written yesterday. You feel they concern you and your life».
Classical music lovers would argue that a symphonic work equally concerns our lives, and they ‘d be right. It’s just that through Dowland’s songs, apart from the illusion of time distance, another thing is also revealed : “classical music” is not an impregnable castle, an ancient treasure guarded by a dragon, as some people want it …
We listen to John Dowland’s ‘Flow My Tears’ for voice and lute, from Manfred Eicher’s production for ECM, performed by John Potter.

Flow, my tears, fall from your springs!
Exiled for ever, let me mourn
Where night’s black bird her sad infamy sings
There let me live forlorn
Down vain lights, shine you no more
No nights are dark enough for those
That in despair their last fortunes deplore
Light doth but shame disclose
Never may my woes be relieved
Since pity is fled
And tears and sighs and groans my weary days, my weary days
Of all joys have deprived
From the highest spire of contentment
My fortune is thrown
And fear and grief and pain for my deserts, for my deserts
Are my hopes, since hope is gone
Hark! you shadows that in darkness dwell
Learn to contemn light
Happy, happy they that in hell
Feel not the world’s despite
Hark! you shadows that in darkness dwell
Learn to contemn light
Happy, happy they that in hell
Feel not the world’s despite