Oxford University Press has published Dr. K. Dawn Grapes's latest work, Dowland, which contextualizes the life and works of John Dowland (1563-1626). Grapes holds a Ph.D. in Historical Musicology and specializes in the music of Early Modern England and music history pedagogy.

As the preface states, “A great deal of important scholarship has taken place in the forty years since Poulton’s second edition of John Dowland was published.” Grapes’s book connects different scholarships within a single volume and contains new discussions of Dowland’s musical catalogue.

Dr. Grapes presented papers based on the research for the book at the North American Conference on British Studies and, more recently, at the annual meeting of the Musicology Society of Australia.

Dowland was published as part of the Composers Across Cultures series, a re-envisioning of The Classics of the Repertoire series.

Dowland celebrates the story of one of the most important composers to emerge from early modern England. This book contextualizes the geographical, political, religious, cultural, and musical aspects of the life of John Dowland (1563-1626). It provides a window into life as a musician in the Elizabethan-Jacobean era, illuminating the importance of social, courtly, and academic connections as it closely explores the composer's musical compositions. During his lifetime, Dowland was well-known for his prowess as a performing lutenist who established a reputation not only in England but also in the German and Italian lands, Denmark, and beyond. His lute solos and duos survive in manuscripts collected across Europe. He also issued four books of lute song-ayres, including the most successful secular music anthology of the era, one collection of consort music, and a theoretical translation, all printed in London. In these publications, Dowland utilized innovative print formats and set new standards for contemporary genres. Collectively, Dowland's compositions and writings present the self-styled image of a man always seeking more. This book places these activities within a biographical timeline of ongoing artistic, commercial, and reputational pursuits. As a complete record, Dowland captures the entrepreneurial resourcefulness of the foremost musician of his day, a performing composer who understood expected conventions, seized opportunities, and created a musical legacy that still stands firm 400 years after his death.

Reviews of Dowland

"With an engaging narrative style, Grapes parallels Dowland's artistic trajectory with his continental travels across German lands, Italy, and Denmark, to his final return to England, in this long-awaited new biography." – Katharyn R. Benessa, Independent scholar

"This engaging biography presents Dowland not only as an English musician but a truly cosmopolitan figure who moved among some of his era's most prominent Western European nobles and artisans." – Linda Austern, Northwestern University

Composers Across Culture Series

Celebrating its 100th anniversary, this extraordinary series continues to amaze and captivate its readers with detailed insight into the lives and work of music's geniuses. Unlike other composer biographies that focus narrowly on the music, this series explores the personal history of each composer and the social context surrounding the music. In a precise, engaging, and authoritative manner, each volume combines a vivid portrait of the musicians' inspirations, influences, life experiences, even their weaknesses, with an accessible discussion of their work. Further, each volume offers superb reference material, including a detailed life and times chronology, a complete list of works, a personalia glossary highlighting the important people in the composer's life, and a select bibliography.

In 2024, OUP announced the next stage of the series, now re-envisioned as Composers Across Cultures. The series renews the commitment to publishing the most authoritative scholarship about major historical composers of influence. We are also expanding the purview of the series to include significant figures less vigorously explored in scholarship, whether they align with the traditional canon of Western art music or engage with jazz, popular, and non-Western musical traditions. And in response to the increasing globalization of music, Composers Across Cultures seeks to explore the inexhaustible diversity of music, and its common links to our shared humanity. – R. Larry Todd, General Editor