The First Book of Songs (1597)

[4] In his remarks ‘To the courteous Reader’, Dowland acknowledges the influence of the composer Marenzio, who had become well known in England as the result of the collection Musica Transalpina, containing madrigals of four, five and six parts, which appeared in 1588.

Most of the lyrics are anonymous, but the authors of a few of the songs have been identified, for example, Fulke Greville to whom the first number Vnquiet thoughts has been attributed.

An important scholar in this field is the linguist David Crystal, who as well as being involved in OP performance at Shakespeare's Globe has worked on song lyrics.

[5][6] In his address to the "courteous reader" at the beginning of the book, Dowland announced his intention to publish more songs.

Their 1970s recording of the First Book for L' Oiseau-Lyre, part of a set Dowland - The Collected Works, featuring Emma Kirkby (soprano), John York Skinner (counter-tenor), Martyn Hill (tenor), and David Thomas (bass), has been reissued on CD.