John Dowland – "Fantasia" P. 1a

Recital location: St. John's Episcopal Church (Columbia, SC) – 11/20/2025 John Dowland (1563–1626), perhaps the finest lute composer, was an English composer and lutenist during the Renaissance period. While he is primarily known today for his songs (often for voice and lute accompaniment), he was also quite the virtuoso lutenist himself, as can be observed through his extraordinarily complex instrumental pieces for solo lute. Indeed, "Fantasia" P. 1a is certainly one of the most difficult pieces to perform in my repertoire to date. The piece is structured much like an early fugue, requiring the performer to juggle up to three voices simultaneously, including some instances of imitative counterpoint.