One of the few English musicians whose fame as a composer spread throughout Europe during his lifetime, John Dowland (1563-1626) was also unsurpassed in his day as a lute virtuoso. The composer of 88 lute songs, Dowland had twice applied for the position of lutenist at the court of Elizabeth I and was rejected both times -- for religious reasons, it was thought. (He had converted to Catholicism during a Protestant reign.) His talents, however,...