The Music of Malfi: O Let Us Howl
The Music of Malfi: O Let Us Howl
Robert Johnson鈥檚 song performed by Tom Guthrie, accompanied by Yair Avidor on theorbo.
O Let Us Howl is a song written by composer Robert Johnson around 1613 for The Duchess of Malfi, setting to music the words of .
Here by a Madman this song is sung to a dismal kind of musicJohn Webster's direction in The Duchess of Malfi text
Johnson was a prolific composer for the Jacobean Theatre, and composed music for performances by Shakespeare's Kings Men group from 1609. He wrote original music settings for plays including The Tempest.
He has been called Shakespeare's Lutenist, and also served as composer at the courts of James I, Prince Henry and Charles I.
O Let Us Howl is performed in Act IV, Scene II of The Duchess of Malfi. It is for deep baritone or bass and ten-string lute. The song, performed by one of their number, precedes speeches and by a group of madmen.
It features stylistic ornamentation and effects designed for the scene, notably the chromatic 'howls'.
This performance, by musician, actor and director Tom Guthrie, is accompanied by Yair Avidor playing a type of lute called a .
Music of Malfi
-
![]()
A performance of music to accompany the Dance of the Madmen in The Duchess of Malfi
Early Music
麻豆官网首页入口 Arts at the Globe
-
![]()
The Duchess of Malfi
Andrew Marr presents this production of John Webster's bloody revenge tragedy The Duchess of Malfi (1614) performed in a perfect recreation of an early Jacobean theatre
-
![]()
The Mysterious Mr Webster
Professor James Shapiro goes in search of the mysterious man behind The Duchess of Malfi, the son of a coachmaker who ended up rivalling Shakespeare
-
![]()
Gemma Arterton as The Duchess of Malfi
Preview Gemma Arterton in the title role of the Globe Theatre's production
More from 麻豆官网首页入口 Arts
-
![]()
Picasso鈥檚 ex-factor
Who are the six women who shaped his life and work?
-
![]()
Quiz: Picasso or pixel?
Can you separate the AI fakes from genuine paintings by Pablo Picasso?
-
![]()
Frida: Fiery, fierce and passionate
The extraordinary life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, in her own words
-
![]()
Proms 2023: The best bits
From Yuja Wang to Northern Soul, handpicked stand-out moments from this year's Proms
