Initiated by John Potter, tenor of the Hilliard Ensemble, this fascinating project, in collaboration with producer Manfred Eicher, explores the beautiful songs of the great 16th-century composer from a contemporary perspective. "In Darkness Let Me Dwell," recorded in January 1999 at Forde Abbey, Dorset, and released on September 17, 1999, approaches Dowland not from the perspective of "early music," but simply as music itself. The themes of the songs, with despair and alienation at the forefront, are undeniably relevant to our time. The exceptional ensemble around John Potter—comprising Maya Homburger (baroque violin), Stephen Stubbs (lute), John Surman (soprano saxophone and bass clarinet), and Barry Guy (double bass)—lends the music an improvisational flexibility. Although perhaps not as cohesive as later albums of the project, "In Darkness" manages with great humility to look beyond Dowland's enchanting facade and delve into the vibrant and melodic heart of his music.
