Cecilio Perera Plays Dowland

ByBradford Werner
2020

Cecilio Perera plays Lachrimæ Pavane (Flow my Tears) by John Dowland (1563-1626) on a replica Renaissance lute made by Renatus Lechner. Recorded in Salzburg, Austria. This comes via his YouTube channel. I love Dowland and Elizabethan music in general. Lachrimæ, or Seven Tears is part of a set of variations on a theme by Dowland outlining different types of tears. The title page of Lachrimæ has the Latin epigram: “Aut Furit, aut Lachrimat, quem non Fortuna beavit” (He whom Fortune has not blessed either rages or weeps). Perera has a nice flowing pulse and arched phrasing here. Plus, that ominous statue! It’s called Pietà (Coat of Peace) in Salzburg by the cathedral, part of a series of numerous depictions of a faceless figure hooded and shrouded in cloth, Cloak of Conscience by Prague artist Anna Chromý.

Dowland sheet music on the site so far

Mr. Dowland’s Midnight by Dowland, Grade 4, Sheet Music or Tab
Mrs. Winters Jump by Dowland, Grade 4, Free Sheet Music or Tab
Orlando Sleepeth by Dowland, Grade 4, Sheet Music or Tab
Tarleton’s Resurrection, Grade 6, Sheet Music or Tab
The Round Battle Galliard, Grade 7, Sheet Music or Tab

Bradford Werner

Bradford Werner is a classical guitarist and music publisher from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He originally created this site for his students at the Victoria Conservatory of Music but now shares content worldwide. Curating guitar content helps students absorb the culture, musical ideas, and technique of the classical guitar. Bradford also has a YouTube channel with over 94,000 subscribers and 13 million views. He taught classical guitar at the Victoria Conservatory of Music for 16 years and freelanced in Greater Victoria for 20 years and now dedicates much of his time curating content online and helping connect the classical guitar community. See more at his personal website.