The Music of Malfi: O Let Us Howl
The Music of Malfi: O Let Us Howl
Robert Johnson’s 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 John Webster.
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 a dance before the Duchess of Malfi 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 theorbo.
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