A Beautiful Evening With English Lutenist Nigel North

A Decoration of Silence

Lute music by Francesco (1497-1543) and Dowland (1563-1626)

Nigel North (Lute)

PROGRAM:

COMPOSITION                             COMPOSER

Ricercars 4 & 1                                    Francesco da Milano

Lord Strange’s March                       John Dowland

Ricercar 2                                            Francesco da Milano

Queen Elizabeth’s Galliard              John Dowland

Ricercar 3                                            Francesco da Milano

Frog Galliard                                      John Dowland

Fantasia Bellissima                           Francesco da Milano

Walsingham                                       John Dowland

Pavan: Solus cum sola                     John Dowland

Fantasias (35,58,38)                        Francesco da Milano

My Lady Hunsdon’s Puffe              John Dowland

Fantasia 38                                       Francesco da Milano

The Shoemaker’s Wife, a toy        John Dowland

Fantasia 28                                      Francesco da Milano

INTERVAL

Sir John Smith, his Almain           John Dowland

Semper Dowland, Semper Dolens      John Dowland

Ricercars (84, 51, 30)                     Francesco da Milano

Mrs Vaux’s Gigge                            John Dowland

Fantasias 16 & 40                           Francesco da Milano

Tarletons Riserectione                  John Dowland

Mrs Winter’s Jump

Fantasia de mon triste                  Francesco da Milano

Ricercar (La Compagna)             Francesco de Milano

Farewell (In Nomine)                    John Dowland

NIGEL NORTH BIO

Nigel North was initially inspired by music at age 7, with the early ‘60s instrumental pop group, The Shadows. Nigel studied classical music performing on both violin and guitar, but eventually discovering his real path in life, the lute, when he was 15.  Basically self-taught on the lute, he has (for over 30 years) developed a unique musical life which embraces his work as a teacher, accompanist, soloist, director and writer.

Some milestones on the way have included the publication of a continuo tutor (Faber 1987)- -representing his work and passion for this subject. The music of J.S.Bach has been another passion, and the 4 Volume CD collection Bach on the Lute was recorded on Linn Records (1994 -1997) and it’s now available as a 4 disc box set.

The ensemble Romanesca was formed by Nigel, together with Andrew Manze  on violin and John Toll on harpsichord and organ. For ten years (1988 – 1998) the duo explored, performed and recorded 17th century chamber music, winning several international awards for their recordings.

Nigel North enjoys accompanying singers and is also an enthusiastic teacher. For over 20 years he was Professor of Lute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London; from 1993 – 1999, he was Professor at the Hochschule der Künste, Berlin; between 2005 and 2007 he was Lute Professor at the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag in the Netherlands and since January 1999 Nigel North has been Professor of Lute at the Early Music Institute at Indiana University, in Bloomington in the USA.

Recent recording projects have included, Robert Dowland’s A Musical Banquet featuring soprano, Monika Mauch, for ECM  in 2008, Lute Songs with tenor Charles Daniels for ATMA in 2007 and the Lute Music of Robert Johnson for Naxos in 2010.