The first booke of songs or ayres of foure parts, with tableture for the lute. So made, that all the parts together, or either of them severally, may be sung to the lute, orpherian, or viol de gambo.
'Composed by John Dowland, lutenist and Bacheler of Musick. Also an
invention by the said author for two to play upon one lute. Newly
corrected and amended.'
Extent: 64 pages. 320 x 205 mm.
Layout: Upright format.
Decoration: Initials and title page woodcuts, elaborately
decorated.
Binding: 17th century wrappers of thick grey paper, now within an
early 20th century binding of rough brown leather over boards.
Original upper wrapper annotated in an early 17th century hand:
'Booke of ffoure partes of Dowlands workes'.
For a detailed description, please see
www.chch.ox.ac.uk/library-and-archives/digital-library.
Provenance: From the Henry Aldrich (1647-1710) bequest, listed in
Archives 1717, item H13, as 'Dowland's first book of songs.'
