Julian Bream plays Dowland (1987)

From a 1987 TV programme called 'Two Loves', in which Julian Bream played the lute (and Peggy Ashcroft recited passages from Shakespeare), filmed in the Long Gallery at Penshurst Place, Kent. Here are the sequences which featured Julian Bream playing pieces by John Dowland on the lute. According to the julianbreamguitar.com website: www.julianbreamguitar.com/lute... , this lute was built for Julian Bream by Luc Breton of Switzerland, in 1985. It has 10 courses and is a copy of a 17th-century lute.
The pieces performed are:
00:00 Mignarde
2:17 The King of Denmark's Galliarde
3:40 Loth to Departe
4:38 Lachrimae
7:36 Tarletone's Riserrectione
8:55 A Fancy by Mr Dowlande BM
11:20 Semper Dowland Semper Dolens
15:14 Orlando Sleepeth

[@mabodomoca]

Whether it's the lute or the guitar, Julian Bream was the master of both, and his passion for playing was unique. RIP maestro.

[@johnmckenna4877]

Julian's legacy is that he retrieved the lute from centuries of obscurity. By so doing he stimulated an appreciation of its tonal and expressive qualities and the genius of those who wrote for it. Thank you for keeping this legacy alive.

[@dennismosercreativearts]

@@banjoboy01 Poulton kept the lute viable for those to continue; Bream popularized the instrument like no one else. And I mean that literally - I know several players and teachers who acknowledge their debt to him and his recordings and performances, myself included. Poulton wasn't known for recordings, she is known especially for her scholarship and Bream readily credited her for that. And in later years, Bream tried to modify his technique to be being a little less "guilutenist" - his realized his career as a guitarist interfered with his lute technique. But even that is a result of years of research and applied practice. Brendan Acker is a great person to talk with about the challenges of playing both instrument families and he's here on the Tube.

[@jgunther3398]

@@banjoboy01 bream is guilutenist maximus

[@jgunther3398]

@@banjoboy01 in bream's time old music was being rediscovered and the playing should be appreciated on its own, not in terms of the latest criteria. karl richter is a similar example in orchestra, who brought bach to the following generation

[@johnradley2714]

Wonderful! The best. A plaque on my former teacher's wall: "If a lutenist lives 65 years, he assuredly spends 60 of them tuning his instrument"

[@pamelafrancis4476]

... you can imagine Julian Bream doing that, he had very acute hearing (he remembers being assaulted by the radio when young) and this gift shines through the wonderful phrasing and dynamics of his playing.

[@JOHN-tk6vl]

Having had a Sitar, I know what he meant!

[@Rasplata5]

He was a special artist, and a great personality. We miss him.

[@heimerblaster976]

His John Dowland: Fantasia no. 7 is THE best: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4Ondod4fdyboNk

[@johnwayne8114]

Such quiet intensity in his playing

[@tomaxi007]

Julian Bream's performances are so great and always give me strength to play music. It shows me that he was not only a very good guitarist or lute player, but also a very great musician. Thank you very much, Mr. Bream!

[@lucamassenziopalermo3140]

Always the most interesting and genial musician ever. Absolutely unforgettable

[@jeanpierresantini9364]

Un très grand artiste qui nous manque RIP maestro 😂😂une grande finesse dans l’interprétation en plus une grande humilité ❤❤

[@JohnSmith-of4vh]

Whether he was the best or the worst matters not, his character & 'feel' for the music shines through.

[@pamelafrancis4476]

Totally agree. Music stands alone from comparisons of different performances and musicians.

[@JohnSmith-of4vh]

He will remain a legend, Pam.@@pamelafrancis4476

[@pablocarballo5533]

Bream fue pura musicalidad, para mi fue más allá de la técnica, más allá de todo lo estilístico, un hombre estrenado completamente a la música, un verdadero genio...

[@tmjcbs]

Thanks! A couple of these were on youtube a couple of years ago as individual tracks, but then disappeared, so, cool to see and hear them again. Makes me wonder though how many more treasures probably lie on the shelves of the BBC...

[@donaldanderson6604]

If you look hard enough, you can find a CD version of this with the poetry readings. It works well.

[@p.miguel7654]

Obrigado por compartilhar essas jóias maravilhosas. Isso e um oasis nesse deserto de música podre e ruim que se ouve nas rádios ...

[@carnivaltym]

Julian! Such a tragedy this was not better recorded as close listening reveals this was a great performance.

[@dodeoledeo3113]

Lachrimae. The very sound of my soul...

[@coreyzimmerman9782]

A VERY special artist! Saw him in his later years........what a thrill!

[@adagio333]

No other classical guitarist or lutenist can compare with the skill and mastership that Bream brings to his playing. I am always making the comparison when listening to others, great as they are...

[@JOHN-tk6vl]

He was a genius.

[@classicguitarfan8]

It's laughable that "purists" attacked his technique when he single handedly brought lute music to the public conciousness

[@cockneybuddhist4713]

Too true! I saw Bream perform both on the lute and guitar. Always gave a good concert. As you infer, Julian Bream was a legend that bought the lute back from the dead. Anyway there are many ways in which to play the lute, as I found out. A beautiful instrument though!

[@Bronco541]

if you ask me those "purists" types are uncreative fools

[@dennismosercreativearts]

Too many of those purists are not performing lutenists or they wouldn't be saying it. Bream himself knew that his technique was a hybrid compromise and said so. Having met him and and talked with him at length, I miss him.

[@banjoboy01]

damn you purist I was going to listen to sweet home abalama

[@ThibautKurt23]

Even Paul O’Dette respects Bream and even said that when he was a guitar student he struggled to play those pieces and discovered the lute when he bought a vinyle album to hear how those pieces sounded on a lute. And the player was of course Julian Bream…

[@Eleuthero5]

There's an incredibly beautiful sadness about the lute. I can see why it dominated music for two hundred years (at least).

[@pamelafrancis4476]

I agree, it was his instrument as much as the guitar. (The theorbo sadly wasn't for him, that has the most beautiful resonance and depth).

[@jacquesfontaine3384]

Ayant découvert Alfred Deller lors d'une émission hommage à France inter à l'occasion de son décès en 1979 je n'ai cessé d'admirer la musique ancienne anglaise et tous les instruments d'époque.Une telle vidéo me rend très nostalgique . Merci à tous ces grds interprètes des années 80 et 90 , qui sont de loin devenus une famille de substitution .Merci à eux et aux éditeurs de cds , preneurs de son , etc...

[@davidschestenger7350]

What a great introspection implies Dowland and Julian bream go it wonderfully well

[@arukapinaka5564]

Wonderful instrument made by the swiss-french luthier Luc Breton

[@frankg3rd1]

Changing strings on my guitar is extremely stressful for me....I cant imagine how I would cope if my instrument were the lute.

[@Deerse]

As if Julian came to us from another time to show what treasures there are and how they can shine. No lutenist has this depth of playing imo.

[@fernandohidalgo5941]

Una belleza esa música interpretada por el genio de Bream !!!Saludos desde Patagonia Argentina

[@jeremyartist1698]

Out of all the masters, he seems like the one who could handle himself in a bar fight.

[@lukemarsden5872]

thank you so much for uploading and sharing this, big love x x x x x x

[@crepuscolochitarra1047]

Great upload,thanks for this!!

[@polyvioscharalambous281]

finest playing probably from all ..

[@mattelijah2615]

Total respect for this man!

[@carlosmanueldiaz531]

Fantástic foggy music, I don't have enough tears in my eyes. DEP Julian Bream

[@eottoe2001]

I wish the sound quality were better but even so this is amazing. TY for the post.

[@maxgregorycompositions6216]

It's 1987.

[@eottoe2001]

@@maxgregorycompositions6216 listen to Segovia ‎- Music For The Guitar - 1960 - full vinyl album.

[@lildurpy]

Amazing ❤

[@fabiansarber]

Beatiful

[@perperson199]

Wonderful

[@okgoogle7388]

Beautyfull

[@mawsilimawsili2474]

RIP amazing Battersea Boy 🙏🌷🌷🤲

[@renatodealbuquerque6337]

Genial

[@GaZonk100]

masterful!. . .in every way!

[@juancarlosnunez795]

We miss a genius........in accord with Mr. Long

[@caffeineaddict5124]

RIP Julian. You are greatly missed!

[@RobertoMartinez-kv5tp]

*¡¡GENIO!!*

[@jaimeRenat]

Great sound of Mr Bream.

[@maurerdavidji007]

and his luth of Luc Breton great swiis luthier

[@AlejodelosReyes]

great to have this! Bream on his 10-course marvellous Breton lute. I'm sorry lady Ashcroft's recordings are not there. They have an album together, she is austounding. Is there any way to find this video? Thanks so much for posting!

[@grahambop]

I don’t have the video any more, it was on an old VHS cassette.

[@AlejodelosReyes]

@@grahambop oh... sorry about that. Thanks for answering... and uploading, great material!

[@ArthurLWood]

Does anyone have a link to the full programme with the Peggy Ashcroft recitations?

[@grahambop]

I don't have the whole programme, however they also made a similar CD together called Two Loves. You may be able to find a used copy, or you can get it as a download from Prestomusic.

[@direbearcoat7551]

He played great! He was fantastic! It's sad that they cut all of her parts out, but she was just filler... We just wanted his performance... Sorry, lady...

[@heimerblaster976]

Six down votes as of this comment...madness!?

[@LuisMartinez-sj5tb]

Siempre he pensado que Julian Bream, es la personificación de la música BARROCA en el siglo XX y XXI. Subliminal, virtuoso.

[@arqimusiq]

Mas bien diría, la música del periodo Renacentista, no Barroco.

[@zazaz44]

Please can you upload the unedited version as Peggy Ashcroft ts brilliant also! Thanks.

[@grahambop]

I don’t have it any more.

[@zazaz44]

@@grahambop O.K Thanks anyway I really enjoyed Julian Bream. Cheers Michael

[@grahambop]

They recorded a CD together of the same material, called Two Loves. You may be able to find it online.

[@zazaz44]

@@grahambop Thanks for that I will look it up Michael

[@lukemarsden5872]

amazing ... was this on the BBC or another channel originally?

[@grahambop]

It was on BBC2 in 1987.

[@nickmaguire5104]

@@grahambop a time when they put decent programs on the tv

[@TheSecretHarp]

He had crazy hands. The fingerings for Dowland are so unwieldy.

[@gustavoenriquebertolani8844]

i wonder where Bream's instruments remains nowdays...

[@jaimeRenat]

Pensé que la ñora era Diana Pulton gran transcriptora de la obra de Dowland, tengo una edición faccimilar de los 7 libros de ayres

[@grahambop]

The lady in the video is Peggy Ashcroft. In the original programme she was reading passages from Shakespeare, in between the performances by Julian Bream.

[@jaimeRenat]

@@grahambop thanks a lot I was kidding I saw Mr Bream consort and soloist hereby in Mexico City oh great concerts

[@thomaswynn3758]

Are Bream's arrangements available anywhere for the Baroque lute?

[@r.addisonarthur9392]

Perhaps his album "The Dances of Dowland". Improved technique as well.

[@bretsmith5953]

Wow This guy is Great > ! He looks like me ! But I am no where as good as he ! ? What is this Instrument ? Wow Really nice !!!! Julian Rest in Peace !

[@stuie46]

What did she say ?

[@grahambop]

Something by Shakespeare. They recorded a CD together: www.julianbreamguitar.com/two-loves--with-peggy-ashcroft-.html

[@robinterkzer8128]

King of the Lute ! xxxxxxx

[@martyheresniak5203]

I am fascinated by how much performances of these works have changed in the intervening years. This sounds to stilted, even pedantic, now.

[@MrMalvolio29]

I make absolutely no claim to being a lutenist, yet I *do* teach music’s “sister-art,” POETRY, from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and am familiar with much of the great lute compositions from the late fifteenth and early sixteenth to the lute accompaniments of the late Baroque and early 18th century. I also have a decent library of lute music…. I have to say, martyheresniak5203, that though I have no doubt at all that you play this remarkable instrument beautifully, and I *believe* you when you claim to be familiar with “contemporary performance styles” on the lute and related instruments such as the oud and theorbo, *I* don’t hear any “stiltedness,” or “pedantic/didactic quality to Bream’s playing. Is it that Bream always did his absolute best-as in his charming performance of The Earl of Essex’s Galliard for Queen Elizabeth I--does what you are calling the “pedantic” quality of his playing inhere within his determination to capture the spirit of the age from which the composition he is performing hails? Or does it have to do with Bream’s seeming at times quite “textual,” whereas lute performances were originally both “notational” *and* improvisational, in which the lutenist “realised” chordal accompaniments? I was simply intrigued by your comment--as I have always been an admirer of Bream, and had never heard anyone lay the charge of being “pedantic” at his door before. Would it be possible for you to say more with concrete examples to illustrate your point, possibly?

[@martyheresniak5203]

@@MrMalvolio29 I meant exactly what I said. Stilted as in his rhythms are preciously exact and pedantic as in I feel nothing from his playing: it seems very rote, this-is-how-it-goes, let-me-show-you-how dry. I much prefer the more recent interpretations of Smith or more so Dunford. Bream brought the lute out of historical curiosity and knocked the dust off, but more recent players have oiled the wood and made it all sound much less creaky.

[@spb7883]

Just imagine: this was performed AFTER his car accident in 1984. Remarkable.

[@larrydean4433]

Julian said that his lute playing method was 'politically incorrect'. I could hear his lute, I have been to politically correct lute concerts. I think releasing the string with a short nail may have its advantages. How do nylon gut strings sound compared to pure gut strings? I always wanted to get a guitar that was scaled the same as an 11 string lute.

[@jgunther3398]

only an ignorant person or someone with major psychological problems could criticize this

[@aisforamerica2185]

Robert Farrar Capon was right. We speak too swiftly against the Lute.

[@pierrelangedoc5292]

I much prefer the sound Bream gets on the lute to the modern so-called 'authentic' approach.