If My Complaints Could Passions move (Dowland / Oliver)

One of the most famous of John Dowland's songs, If My Complaints Could Passions Move takes the form of the dance known as Galliard. What appears to be an entreaty to Love (as a concept) to treat the complainer better sounds to me more like a love letter to complain of unrequited love. In my reimagining of the original work, I crack the surface of the polite and somewhat formalized plea to reveal a more turbulent underbelly. The style of the work moves between formality and more direct expression. This is aided by the excellent modern rendition by my friend, poet and writer Genni Gunn. My heartfelt thanks to ERATO Ensemble for commissioning the work, along with the following for their financial support through private donations: William Bruneau, John Burke, Richard Carswell, Genni Gunn, Anna Mak, Anne Myrick, and Julia Nolan.