Tarleton's Resurrection

Music by J. Dowland; performance © 2005 J. Hart

John Dowland was a lutenist and composer around the time of Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare.

Tarleton's Resurrection was written in honor of Dick Tarleton (sometimes written Tarlton), a popular comedian during the Elizabethan period. Tarleton began his career as a pub keeper. Eventually however, he became a favorite entertainer at Elizabeth's court and an actor in the Queen's Men Theater Company. The Queen's Men were staffed with many important theater personalities of the day, including Bill Shakespeare.

After Tarleton's death, London seemed determined to remember the famous clown. In addition to Dowland's song, Tarleton inspired Yorick in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Anyway, the campaign to remember Tarleton was successful. After all, nearly five centuries after his death, you are reading about Dick on a website.

I recorded Tarleton's Resurrection in two takes. Originally, I didn't plan to include the piece on this site; I was merely tinkering with the song to tweak mic positions and other settings. However, due to a potent mixture of nostalgia, caffeine, and the playful beauty of Dowland's composition, Mr. Tarleton was resurrected once again.