Dowland 400 Festival
A four-day festival of concerts of lute music, lute songs and ensembles, talks and events to celebrate 400 years of England's finest lute composer.
When
☀️Summer festival
Next event:
Thu, 23 July 2026
About
John Dowland (1564-1626), the best lute player and composer of his day, one of England’s finest ever chamber music and song composers, and the first English singer-songwriter in the modern sense, whose music is still played by every classical guitarist, died 400 years ago this year. We thought this would be the ideal time to come together and celebrate his artistry and legacy.
Our four-day festival celebrating his music will include amazing concerts and masterclasses by some of the world’s leading lutenists, with singers and other musicians; lectures and talks about Dowland’s life; and so much more – even a chance for a lesson with a leading player or to have a first go on a lute.
You will be able to spend the festival listening, looking, playing, learning and soaking up all the Dowland events we have planned in what we hope is a diverse, informative & entertaining programme – and in the historic heart of Norwich, England's second city in Elizabethan days, there's plenty more for you or your significant other to see and do between your chosen events.
Events
Lecture: John Dowlands 'Court pieces' for voices and instruments
- Thu, 23 July 2026
The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
10:30am
£5
Dowland 400 Festival
Setting the Scene: Lute Music in England Before Dowland
Augustin Cornwall-Irving
- Thu, 23 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 12:00pm
- £15
- Dowland 400 Festival
Lecture: John Dowland, a new approach to manuscript sources
Jan Burgers
- Thu, 23 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 2:30pm
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
Lecture: Dowland's Lutes
Michael Lowe
- Thu, 23 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 4:00pm
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
Mirth and Melancholy
Nigel North
- Thu, 23 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 7:00pm
- £25
- Dowland 400 Festival
Dowland on Harpsichord
Matthew Brown
- Thu, 23 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 9:30pm
- £20
- Dowland 400 Festival
A Masterclass with Nigel North
Nigel North
- Fri, 24 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 10:00am
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
Songs from Dowland's First and Second Books
Dowland's Foundry
- Fri, 24 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 12:00pm
- £15
- Dowland 400 Festival
Lecture: Two Englishmen Abroad
Peter Holman
- Fri, 24 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 2:00pm
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
Lecture: Dowland's Time in Copenhagen
Peter Hauge
- Fri, 24 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 3:00pm
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
Lecture: Dowland's Time in France
Joachim Held
- Fri, 24 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 4:00pm
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
Dowland Consort Music
Fleet Street Revival
- Fri, 24 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 7:00pm
- £25
- Dowland 400 Festival
Dowland and his European admirers
Matthew Wadsworth
- Fri, 24 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 9:30pm
- £20
- Dowland 400 Festival
Masterclass: Bor Zuljan
Bor Zuljan
- Sat, 25 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 10:00am
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
Four-voice ayres from Dowland's third and fourth songbooks
Dowland's Foundry
- Sat, 25 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 12:00pm
- £15
- Dowland 400 Festival
Lecture: Dowland in Germany
Sigrid Wirth
- Sat, 25 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 2:00pm
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
Lecture: A new edition of Dowland’s Songbooks
Daniel Thomson
- Sat, 25 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 2:30pm
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
Lecture: Historically correct strings
Luke Challinor
- Sat, 25 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 4:00pm
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
Dowland, A Fancy, on lute and orpharion
Bor Zuljan
- Sat, 25 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 7:00pm
- £25
- Dowland 400 Festival
Self Accompanied Dowland Songs
Emma-Lisa Roux
- Sat, 25 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 9:00pm
- £20
- Dowland 400 Festival
A Concert of Lute Quartets
Chordophony Lute Quartet
- Sun, 26 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 12:30pm
- £20
- Dowland 400 Festival
Lecture: The lute ensemble at the Elizabethan court
Lynda Sayce
- Sun, 26 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 3:30pm
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
A Zoom lecture: Dowland Biography
K Dawn Grapes
- Sun, 26 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 5:00pm
- £5
- Dowland 400 Festival
Lachrimae
Fretwork
- Sun, 26 July 2026
- The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
- 7:00pm
- £25
- Dowland 400 Festival
Location
The Octagon Chapel, Norwich
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