Sounds and Sweet Ayres (2004)

Folger Consort performed Sounds and Sweet Ayres from October 8 to October 10, 2004. In a brief quarter-century, John Dowland, Thomas Campion, Thomas Morley, and other song-writers produced a treasury of English ayres for voice and lute filled with beautiful lyric poetry. At the same time composers were cultivating this sophisticated art, English instrumentalists were developing their own lively virtuoso style, often based on the wonderful folk songs and dances of the country-side.