Introduction

English written lute music only began around 1540, however, the country produced numerous lutenists, esspecially in the Golden age of the lute . The English preferred dance-form pieces and popular song arrangements above the formal formal forms.

John Dowland (1563–1626) in the Elizabethan period is perhaps the most famous composer of his time. His influence spread very far: variations on his themes were written by keyboard composers in Germany decades after his death.

Dowland's predecessors and colleagues, such as Anthony Holborne (c. 1545–1602) and Daniel Bacheler (1572–1619) also left a large repertoire. From the lesser known composers, Francis Cutting (1550 – 1596), with the famous arrangement of greensleeves, John Johnson (1545 – 1594 ) and his son Robert Johnson (1580 –1634), who composed music in the plays of Shakespeare, are the must haves for someone interested in this repertoire.

Links:

• Other countries
• Complete list of composers
• English renaissance lute music (External link to lute society)