Julian Bream plays Dowland (1987)

[grahambop]

Just uploaded this from my video collection, here is Julian Bream playing eight pieces by John Dowland on the lute. This was recorded from a TV programme in 1987. Only a couple of these performances have been available on youtube previously, as far as I know.

All the relevant details are given in the description on youtube.

[Rob MacKillop]

I haven't got time to listen now, but I look forward to it. Do you mind if I share it on a classical-guitar forum?

[grahambop]

Rob, ok by me. Someone has already put it on the Delcamp forum by the way.

[neatomic]

wonderful...i had just been listening to dowland earlier today!

the sound is a bit wonky...or the intonation!..but...beggars can't be choosers..hah

cheers

[grahambop]

I had to remove some hiss from the original audio on the video, it was recorded on a mono VHS recorder so fairly lo-fi. But apart from that, it sounds reasonably ok to me. You do of course get a slight ‘detuned’ effect from some of the pairs of lute courses, like a 12-string guitar. I believe that is not unusual, I think you can hear it on Bream’s lute records at least.

[grahambop]

Bream appears to be playing a 10-course lute, so 19 strings to worry about! (although for Dowland, I doubt he needs all of them.)

[christianm77]

Yeah 7 is fine IIRC

[Rob MacKillop]

Well, the lute changed a lot during Dowland's time, as did the playing technique. He wrote for 6, 7, 8 and 9c lutes, and his technique changed from thumb in to thumb out - the latter closer to guitar technique.

But most of the best repertoire is for 7 courses.

[JFranck]

Thanks for this explanation, Rob . Watching this interesting video, I wondered how Juian Bream used (or not) the bass strings.

[grahambop]

This article has some details of the lute. Apparently Bream wanted the ability to play a wider repertoire so he commissioned a 10-course lute from luthier Luc Breton.

I love his use of the term ‘the authentic music racket’!

(I think you can scroll down and read the whole article even though it talks about subscribing, I was able to read it all).

MUSIC; JULIAN BREAM SETS OFF IN A NEW (OLD) DIRECTION - The New York Times

[Shay]

Seeing the title only I thought you misspelled download its beautiful...

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[grahambop]

John Download...lol, brilliant.

If he was around today I expect he would become a youtuber and adopt that name!

[christianm77]

Julian Bream at Download? Imagine the mosh pit!

[grahambop]

Julian Bream at Download? Imagine the mosh pit!

[jameslovestal]

Bream was featured on the last page of last week's The Economist (the last page is always about a person that died).

Nice tribute about this very talented Brit.