John Johnson
John Johnson was one of the most important English composers and performers of lute music from the Renaissance era. His music mixed Italianate and English elements to yield an individual style, especially inventive in the realm of variation. Many regard him as the founder of the English school of lute music, even though John Dowland would surpass him. Johnson was also the father of composer and lutenist Robert Johnson.
There are few details known about John Johnson's early years. He must have developed a talent on the lute in his early childhood: a 16th century document dealing with composer/lutenist Daniel Bachelar (born, c. 1574) indicates that at the age of seven Johnson became an apprentice to a professional lutenist. The two probably served in the house of a nobleman or wealthy patron.
In 1579 Johnson secured the highly-coveted post of one of three lutenists to Queen Elizabeth. The other two were Mathias Mason and Thomas Cardell, respected musicians both. Though the number of royal lutenists would often swell to a half-dozen or more, Johnson would come to be the Queen's favorite among them.
He apparently wrote music throughout most of his adult years, typically scoring his works for solo lute or lute duet in the form of pavanes or galliards, or as arrangements of popular tunes or folk tunes. A pair of ballads appearing in 1588 used the music from two of Johnson's works, Flat Pavane and The Medley. This would suggest that Johnson's two pieces had already become popular with the public, their music, then, likely dating back to the 1570s or even 1560s. Numerous other compositions by Johnson were arranged by his contemporaries and by younger composers: Giles Farnaby (c. 1565-1640), for example, made a brilliant keyboard arrangement of Flat Pavane.
Johnson remained in the service of Queen Elizabeth until his death in 1594. He was well-liked and apparently quite content in his post as a royal lutenist: indeed, there is no evidence he ever left his homeland.
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Sound Ranch Studios: Mixes 2015-2021
Alternative & Indie - Released by 5ohm Records on Jan 11, 2022
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London Calling
Electronic - Released by HYDROGEN on Aug 18, 2016
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Reach Out
Soul - Released by Revive Entertainment on Jan 1, 2005
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Country Bred
Country - Released by Various Artists on Mar 4, 2023
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ICONYC Essentials 4 (Summer Edition)
John Johnson, Michael & Levan, Stiven Rivic
House - Released by ICONYC on Aug 17, 2020
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Rise Up
Miscellaneous - Released by Revive Entertainment on Jan 1, 2006
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Ears to the Earth
New Age - Released by Dancing Bird Flute Productions on Jan 1, 2006
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The Very Best Of...
Electronic - Released by Sonic City on Feb 24, 2017
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John Johnson City EP
Techno - Released by Marc Et Claude's on Aug 22, 2015
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A Storm Is Comin
Country - Released by Barbed Wire Sound on Feb 23, 2024
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Global Heartbeat
Reggae - Released by 2A Vibes Records LTD on Mar 25, 2024
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The Caligo Cuckoo (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtracks - Released by 5ohm Records on Jan 20, 2024
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
The 2am Calm
Alternative & Indie - Released by Dream Catcher Release on Dec 18, 2020
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