Nocturnal after John Dowland, Op. 70
by Benjamin Britten
Composed in 1963 for and dedicated to Julian Bream, Nocturnal is universally regarded as the greatest work for solo guitar written in the twentieth century. In a reverse-variation structure, it presents eight contrasting character pieces — Musingly, Very agitated, Restless, Uneasy, March-like, Dreaming, Gently rocking, Passacaglia — before the original Dowland lute song 'Come, heavy sleep' finally emerges in full at the close. The effect is of gradually assembling the fragments of a dream until the source melody appears like a memory reclaimed.
Editions
Faber Music
Julian Bream, 1965
Original publication, edited by the dedicatee Julian Bream. The standard performing edition.
Boosey & Hawkes
Richard Wright, 2004
Revised edition with updated fingering and performance notes based on Bream's later interpretations.
Chanterelle
David Tanenbaum, 1997
Study edition with analytical commentary on structure and guitar technique, aimed at advanced conservatory students.