Elizabethan Blues

May 31, 2009 11:55 PM | Related Categories: Music

Here's a picture of a cat.

That's the photo out of the way. Now here's some music for Sunday. There is a connection with last week's blues number - well I think there is. Two contrasting recordings of what might be called the blues of its day - melancolia in song by John Dowland. First of all a relatively conventional recording, although with some period style

Flow my tears, sung by Emma Kirkby, Soprano

And a rather different rendition, by a Frenchman, no less.

Flow my tears, sung by Gérard Lesne, Countertenor

I wonder what people make of the contrast. Of course Sting has also given us his take on this music recently.......

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Yes, I have Sting's "Songs from the Labyrinth"..now to listen to your other suggestions.
# Posted By Chuckeroon | 6/1/09 4:18 PM
I know this cat....:)
# Posted By Shaun | 6/1/09 10:19 PM
How good of this cat to sit in a spotlight for you! It seems to have given it two shadows, like stage lighting. Some lovely textures here, especially the wood grain, and a nice range of tones in the fur. This is a rather superior cat, with very pretty eyes and markings. As usual with cats, you can read anything you like into the expression - mild curiosity, indifference, pity, contempt - take your pick.

And the Dowland - how did you know that was one of my favourites? Not like you to approve of something so relentlessly down-hearted though?
# Posted By Marie Celeste | 6/2/09 3:54 AM
M-C. As Shaun indicates, I'm not the only one to have come across this cat. Or cats - there are two of them that inhabit this furniture restorers in Zürich old town. They bask in the floodlights, although it's unusual to see either of them doing anything quite as energetic as sitting up like this. Some kind of short haired posh breed. True about cat expressions - they run the entire gamut from disdain to contempt.

Although Dowland is ostensibly miserable ("Semper Dowland, Semper Dolens") I don't really find the music down-hearted. He was of course feigning/embracing the cult of melancolia - and gloominess was seen as almost as a desirable achievement.

I'm not sure if these songs would have been performed by countertenor in Dowland's day, but I find Gérard Lesne's tone has an instrumental quality that elevates it above the slightly obvious emotions of even such a gifted singer as Emma Kirkby. I like it both ways though.
# Posted By richard | 6/2/09 10:11 AM
So, now I have established that I do in fact know this cat, I have to comment that your photograph of it captures it really well. I would like to see one that you may have which positions him in a "usual" pose, in the sunlight, enjoying life.... not that this is not a good one but you seem to have bothered it somewhat with your intrusion...
# Posted By Shaun | 6/2/09 12:16 PM
I like to listen to Dowland ... and to Sting! Bought the record, but was bit disappointed. Maybe we are too used to other ways of interpretation? I can't give a preference here for the lady or the countertenor; both very nice in my ears!
# Posted By Peter | 6/2/09 2:32 PM
Shaun - if you know these cats you will know that they don't spend any time in the sunlight. No sunlight penetrates this shop. They sleep, normally under the floodlights. Nor do they appear to make any effort to enjoy themselves, unless the odd foray like this to ridicule the passers-by counts.
# Posted By richard | 6/2/09 4:33 PM
Hi Peter - yes, I think Sting is much too affected in his approach. In my opinion the music works best with simplicity and purity. I wonder if the recording has brought Dowland another audience? Not that he needs rediscovering, of course.
# Posted By richard | 6/2/09 4:41 PM
I love the reedy purity of the countertenor's voice, Gallic vowels notwithstanding. The lack of embelishment creates a very affecting, almost abstract mood of melancholy, as opposed to Emma Kirkby's more dynamic interpretation, which conveys personal anguish. It's interesting how abstract the lyrics are - there's no indication as to the cause of this complete desolation.
# Posted By Marie Celeste | 6/2/09 5:07 PM
This article by Peter Holman gives some interesting background to the Lachrimae if your'e interested. He recently published a book on the subject: http://www.goldbergweb.com/en/magazine/essays/1999...
# Posted By Marie Celeste | 6/2/09 5:53 PM
Really love this photograph. The cat stands out so wonderfully from the background and with one table on top of another we know immediately we are in an antique shop, junk shop, emporium for old furniture...the atmosphere is there. it's almost as if the cat is cut and pasted onto the background, it's so sharp and stark.
# Posted By Jilly | 6/4/09 1:42 PM
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