John Dowland | Timeline

John Dowland (1563 – buried 20 February 1626) was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep" (the basis of Benjamin Britten's 1963 composition for guitar solo, Nocturnal after John Dowland), "Come again", "Flow my tears", "I saw my Lady weepe" and "In darkness let me dwell", but his instrumental music has undergone a major revival, and with the 20th century's early music revival, has been a continuing source of repertoire for lutenists and classical guitarists. (Intro from Wikipedia)

January(?) 1(?), 1563 - London(?) - John Dowland is born
January(?) 1(?), 1580 - Paris - Dowland goes to Paris, at Sir Henry Cobham's service, the ambassador to the French court, and his successor, Sir Edward Stafford. He becomes a Catholic at Paris =(START)
January(?) 1(?), 1584 - Paris - Dowland is sent on a mission by Sir Edward Stafford (who succeeded Cobham as Ambassador) on behalf of some english merchants imprisoned in France and condemned to the galleys
July 1(?), 1586 - England - Probably returns to England by this time
July 8, 1588 - Oxford - Dowland receives the Bachelor of Music from the University of Oxford. In "Apologia Musices", Dowland is mentioned by Dr.John Case among the most famous musicians of his day
November 17, 1590 - Tiltyard, Westminster - "His Golden Locks" is sung by Robert Hales at the Tiltyard, Westminster, at the Accession Day Celebrations
January(?) 1(?), 1592 - Sudeley Castle - "My heart and tongue were twins" is sung before the Queen at Sudeley Castle. Six Harmonizations contributed to Est's "Whole Book of Psalmes"

January(?) 1(?), 1594 - London - Dowland's application for a post as Court lutenist is rejected for being a Catholic
March(?) 1(?), 1594 - Braunschweig - Dowland visits the Duke of Brunswick
May(?) 1(?), 1594 - Kassel - Dowland visits the Landgrave of Hesse
July(?) 1(?), 1594 - Florence, Italy - Dowland plays before the Grand Duke of Tuscany
August(?) 1(?), 1594 - Florence - Dowland had the intention of going to Rome to visit Luca Marenzio, however, he leaves the city hurriedly when exiled english catholics living there attempt to involve him in a plot against the Queen.
January(?) 1(?), 1595 - Nuremberg - Dowland returns to Germany
November 10, 1595 - Nuremberg - Dowland writes a detailed account of his journey and of the activities of the exiles to Sir Robert Cecil.
January(?) 1(?), 1596 - Kassel - Returns to the Landgrave's Court. Seven of Dowland's compositions appear in Barley's "New Booke of Tabliture" without the composer's permission; "false and unperfect".
December 1, 1596 - Kassel - Dowland receives a letter from Henry Noel, urging him to return home in the likelihood of the Queen's granting him a post at Court.
February 26, 1597 - Westminster Abbey, London - "Lamentatio Henrici Noel" composed for Henry Cecil's funeral in Westminster Abbey
October 21, 1597 - London - "The First Booke of Songes" enters in the Stationer's Register. Dowland describes himself on the title-page as "Bacheler of Musicke in both the Universities".
February 9, 1598 - London - Dowland receives a letter from the Landgrave of Hesse offering him a post at the Landgrave's Court
July 16, 1598 - London - Appointment offered at the Court of Christian IV of Denmark
November 18, 1598 - Helsingor, Denmark - Dowland begins his duties as royal lutenist at the Danish Court with a salary of 500 daler a year
June 1, 1600 - Helsingor - Dowland finishes editing the "Second Booke of Songes"
July 15, 1600 - Helsingor - The "Second Booke of Songes" enters in the Stationers' Register.
July 28, 1600 - Helsingor - Dowland signs a receipt for 600 daler in excess of his salary, paid him on the intruction of the Court Treasurer

Dowland's "In Darkness let me dwell" with Sting's modern voice - A surprising result

September(?) 1(?), 1600 - London - Dowland returns to England to buy instruments and engage other musicians for the Danish Court
June 6, 1601 - London - Dowland receives a present from the Danish King of a portrait of His Royal Majesty in "plain gold"
February 21, 1602 - London - The "Third and Last Booke of Songes" enters in the Stationers' Register.
February 19, 1603 - Helsingor, Denmark - Back in Denmark
September 20, 1603 - Winchester - During a Masque presented for Prince Henry, Dowland "has access" to the Queen, probably soliciting a post at Court
October 4, 1603 - London - Second reprint of "The First Booke of Songes"
April 2, 1604 - Fetter Lane, London - "Lachrimae or Seven Teares" enters the Stationer's Register. By this date, Dowland occupies a house in Fetter Lane
July 10, 1604 - Helsingor, Denmark - Dowland returns to Denmark and is payed another year's salary
March 10, 1606 - Helsingor - Dowland is dismissed from the Court of Denmark while the King is absent on a visit to the Duke of Brunswick
April(?) 1(?), 1606 - London - Returns to England
October 28, 1611 - London - "A Pilgrimes Solace" enters in the Stationers' Register. Dowland becomes lutenist to Lord Walden
October 28, 1612 - Whitehall Palace - Appointed one of the lutes to King James I, in the place of Richard Pyke, at the salary of 20 pence a day
February 14, 1614 - Whitehall Palace - Plays the lute in Chapman's "Masque of the Inner Temple and Lincoln's Inn" at Whitehall during the festivities connected with the marriage of Princess Elizabeth.
May 7, 1625 - Westminster Abbey, London - Plays during the Funeral Ceremonies for King James I
January 20, 1626 - London - Receives his final payment and is succeeded in his post at Court by his son Robert
February 20, 1626 - London - John Dowland dies, aged 63 =(END)