Dowland in Dublin Michael Slattery, tenor La Nef SACD2 2650 • In thus dedicating the song 'From Silent Night' in his collection A Pilgrim’s Solace (1612), John Dowland reveals his possible Irish origins.   Was Dowland, often considered the first great English composer, actually Irish?   He may have belonged to an old Irish family, the O’Dolans, who settled in Dublin in the middle of the 16th century. • Dowland is mainly known today for the expressiveness of his Ayres.   In putting together this project, La Nef has chosen to concentrate on the more lighthearted side of Dowland.   Working closely with American tenor Michael Slattery, La Nef start to strip some of Dowland’s Ayres of their complex, contrapuntal accompaniments, giving them a simple, Celtic flavor. • Michael Slattery was praised by Gramophone magazine for his performance of traditional repertoire: “Michael Slattery has a stellar career ahead of him.   It's a real joy to hear this traditional music…   Performed beautifully and idiomatically by such a talented and serious artist.”   Career highlights include Peter Sellars 'Tristan Project' at Lincoln Center, the title role in Bernstein's Candide at Royal Festival Hall in London, and Monteverdi's L'Orfeo at the Châtelet Theater in Paris, the Staatsoper in Berlin, and at Glimmerglass. • La Nef is a musical group dedicated to creating and producing early and contemporary music.   Since its beginning, in 1991, La Nef has been attentive to the historical and theatrical settings of its musical-theatrical shows, and historical and literary themes underpin all its concerts of early and traditional music.       John Dowland (1563-1626)   1. Sleep Wayward Thoughts (arr SD/MS) - 2:36   2. Now O Now I Needs Must Part (SD/MS) - 2:38   3. Behold a Wonder Here (arr SD/MS) - 4:11   4. Fine Knacks for Ladies (Instr. arr SD) - 2:14   5. Say, Love if Ever Thou Didst Find (arr SD) - 2:55   6. Away With These Self-Loving Lads (arr SB) - 1:51   7. Come again, Sweet Love (arr SD/MS) - 3:09   8. Come Heavy Sleep (arr SD/MS) - 2:58   9. Lacrimae Pavan (Instr. arr SB) - 2:50 10. Time Stands Still (arr SD) - 3:03 11. Me, Me and None but Me (arr SB) - 2:26 12. Kemp’s Jig / Mistress Winter’s Jump / My Lady Hundson’s Puffe (Instr. arr SB) - 3:29 13. Clear or Cloudy (arr SD) - 2:28 14. O Sweet Woods (arr SB) - 1:46 15. A Galliard (Instr. arr SD) - 2:51 16. A Shepherd in a Shade (arr SB/MS) - 3:21 17. His Golden Locks (arr SD/MS) - 4:24 ATMA Classique is distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading PO Box 44, Briar Hill, Vic, 3088, Australia Telephone +61 (0)3 9432 4149 ~ Facsimile +61 (0)3 9444 6879