Sting - In Darkness Let Me Dwell

[JasonMasters]

Many people seem to think that this version is "not as good" as others because Sting makes the song sound dark and melancholy. Those people seem to be forgetting that this song is intended to be dark. It most definitely should not sound light-hearted or sweet, as some versions I've heard sound. At least, that's my opinion, for whatever that's worth. I think that Sting has managed to capture the intended feeling of Dowling's original song, and has done so brilliantly.

[purpleraven888]

That's an interesting comment JamKart. For example on fan sites, many people say they do not like his Sacred Love album, whereas it is one of my all-time faves. And I agree, it's good to hear his interpretation of Dowland. I do like it, I just like Deller's version too. I wasn't criticising him, just making an observation.

[JamKar1]

I get it, that he is not the first. But why shouldn't he raise his voice with the others? I get also that Sting's solo efforts have been very polarizing.

[purpleraven888]

The comments on Sting are interesting .... he does seem to annoy quite a few people! I'm quite sure this does not bother him one iota though - he just does exactly what he pleases (not unlike me!). People often find maverick, unpredictable types exasperating, as they can't be labelled or put into boxes. Anyway, surely what Sting does is up to him?

[purpleraven888]

Nice one Kristoph! Very droll..... though I admire Sting greatly, I highly recommend the Deller versions of Dowland's songs. I have them on a 1950's Vanguard LP and his voice is exquisite - it sounds very strange to begin with, if unused to hearing a counter tenor, but repays many, many listenings.

[Kristoph1991]

A quote of my friend upon hearing this "Oh Sting, where is thy death?"

[JamKar1]

Bravo to Sting for getting Dowland's music out there for us to hear!

[tuftybox1821]

@JamKar1

??

It's been available for years, by musicians trained in Elizabethan music techniques. I don't depise Sting for this at all though, and his discussion was very interesting - he is a musician, after all. But to my ear his voice is too rough and breathy - like trying to polish a pearl with sandpaper. Deller's your man. An exquisite voice for exquisite music.

[GyveTurckee]

Haha, these kids....."ancient"

[ilgatos]

WOW!! I never hear this song. It's Wonderfull !! Great lirycs.

[tupiornot]

Raoni te saúda, Dowland!

[EvenGodsSuffer]

Finally!

Finally, someone is singing the words instead of the supporting notes.

Thank you @JasonMasters

[federipal]

Sting makes this introspective song something of his own.

[carsickphil]

Great version by Sting. I had a go at updating Dowland myself earning a slightly stuffy response from those in the classical world but entertaining those in blues world. Enjoyed myself, learned a lot and still love listening the original pieces played by early music buffs. If you're interested in my attempts on blues slide guitar then go to my carsickphil channel and see what you think. There's a version of Mr Dowland's Midnight and Orlando Sleepeth available among my videos.

[leonardniamh]

REALLY LIKE THIS VERSION

[vedranaflips]

Where is this?

[EmilyHarrisMusic]

I think this is simply wonderful.

[Belgarion9989]

I enjoyed everything except for Sting's diction, which altered the pitch of his voice, and at some points was downright indecipherable

[danablett]

@dxf323 wow. there is heaps of counterpoint all over this piece. the only pretentious wank i can hear is from your arrogance. 

[danablett]

@dxf323 Haha, cute. Nice work achieving your grade 6 theory. now... listen to what the lute is ACTUALLY playing. He is playing heaps of arpeggios, and heaps of lines above his chords, or lines in the top note voicings of his chords. An arpeggiated chord can be seen and heard as line sustained... much like playing 5 or 6 notes on a piano with the pedal down. Counterpoint is about the relationship between 2 moving lines. It can be rubato, it can be improvised. BTW, I have a B.Mus(composition)

[danablett]

@dxf323 doubt if you want... doesn't change the truth. you do know there are other people in the world besides yourself that are musicians, right? some of them use youtube? ;) just a quick english lesson.. poly=more then one. 2 instruments (lute and voice) is... more then 1! i think a strong example of this is in the video at 3:14 til 3:30... if you transcribed exactly what was played onto a score... you would analyze that as counterpoint.

[danablett]

@danablett what i think he means by "the counterpoint is very awkward, eerie, mysterious" is the way that the harmonic relationship between the 2 instruments constantly change on a note per note basis and in a fairly non traditional way... lets not forget that the definition of counterpoint is "point to point" i can totally understand what he is saying. I don't see how you don't get this... ive been to your channel, ive watch some videos, you are smart and talented. Why bother picking on Sting?

[Maconmara1]

Wow it's not until you hear Sting speaking openly about music that you realise that he speaks like a complete wanker!

[DrJRL]

0:55 "I've always maintained that silence is the perfect music and that what we do as musicians is create a frame around silence" - Sting.

I'm a big Sting fan and all in favour of bringing old culture back to life but he needs to be pulled up for coming out with a massive load of bollocks there. :)

[bignemo778]

he does an incredible job with this song!! way to go sting!!

[gamgagirl]

if only people would pay attention to the true early music professionals instead of this impersonators! I really disagree with his interpretations.

[aberjed]

Dowland is the great master of the song. up there with Schubert.

[Holligog]

Every piece of music is open to interpretation and respect to the interpreter if they pay homage the original intent.

I like it.

[InUrShit]

it makes me sick

[karahan246]

So fantastic, it brings me back to those medeival times and if I close my eyes, I feel like I'm somewhere in 16 century....

[dconn445]

@karahan246 this is Renaissance ha

[karahan246]

@dconn445 Thank for correcting me...

[thomastrololo1]

Can we PLEASE get more air on the voice?

[sowhatnowhere]

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music."

Aldous Huxley

[gimaru1]

crapy voice

[evilstormgnat]

Oh Sting I do like you, and your voice is undeniably interesting in this early work, but oh god please watch your vowels.

[Inmixto]

Please, tell me, who is this superb lute-player?

[evilstormgnat]

@Inmixto Edin Karamazov.

[icanwaitanotherday]

Haunting, beautiful, incredible!

[jeanlemoine78]

I've listened to a number of versions of this song here, and this one has definitely something the others don't. First, Sting adds a life I hardly hear in others, but maybe the most stricking feature is the place the luth takes. It's not just here for support, it's the foundation of the entire song. This one is definitely a fave.

Too bad so many narrow minded people just had fun with shooting Sting down. I find this album really interesting and refreshing.

[Luthval]

@jeanlemoine78

Sorry not to agree, listen to Gerard Lesne, Andreas Scholl... And the lute playing here is not so fine. Narrow minded ? no, just open your ears, some knows how to play and sing this music, Sting here is like an nice "good willing" amateur. Ok it is nice to listen but not at the level of the mentionned singers.

[lambicframbroise]

This is great to see and hear. I hope he draws more to the awesome world of classical music.

[direngrey2143]

please sting, keep away from early music. go back to the police.

[ADyingFaith]

This song comes from my own life and soul.

[pianomags]

It's about the feeling...it's a poem set to music and he totally gets the intention across, sounding like Sting though. I know his Madrigal jaunts got slated, but there are so few men promoting the art of early English Song I reckon this is ultimately a good thing.

[ADyingFaith]

@pianomags Well said.

[kussluft]

wonderful

[ald1n]

I don't know why, but his voice in this song is so irritating.