A newly commissioned work composed by Mason Bynes of Sugar Land celebrates the work of John Dowland. Eliza P. Smith of Lewisville will perform the work, which was made possible thanks to a grant from The Arts Community Alliance and private donations.
DALLAS – Lumedia Musicworks will debut “Dowland Reimagined” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 26, online. It’s a modern take on the work of John Dowland and features new commissioned work by young composer Mason Bynes.
Bynes, a graduate of the University of North Texas and a graduate student at Berklee College of Music in Boston, drew inspiration from Brazilian guitarist Luiz Bonfá and vocal stylings of Brazilian artists Joyce and Maria Rita. Soprano Eliza P. Smith of Lewisville will perform with accompanying musicians Héctor A. Torres González of Denton, who will play the lute, classical and electric guitars, and Jaime Esposito of Denton, who will play the vibraphone.
Lumedia commissioned Bynes thanks to a grant from The Arts Community Alliance and private donations.
The performance will be available until 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 9. To register, go to https://www.lumediamusicworks.com/dowland. Tickets are $10 each for adults and offered at no charge for students.
John Dowland (ca. 1563-1626) was an English composer of the Renaissance period. He was popular for his lute songs.
“Both lutenists and classical guitarists love his work,” said Julianna Emanski of Frisco, artistic director of Lumedia. “His songs are melancholy, and this is an appropriate time to appreciate the depth of loneliness in Dowland’s music.”
Dallas-based nonprofit Lumedia, which is committed to bringing early music – works composed before 1750 – to new audiences.
“The entire program is simultaneously refreshing and haunting, as it builds on Dowland’s work,” Emanski said. “Bynes’ pieces break boundaries and give hope.”
Bynes collaborated in projects for commercial music, concert music and media while pursuing her undergraduate degree. She was selected to compose for the 2020 Fort Worth Indie Film Showcase for Priyanka Shah’s film “Cross Roads.” Bynes also wrote for a cappella pop vocal group UNT Green Tones.
“I am driven and inspired by the variety of connections made to the people I collaborate with, and to the people who are kind enough to give my music a listen,” she said. “My goal in creating music is to demonstrate how thoughts and feelings intersect with different identities, creeds and cultures.”
Hailing from Marshalltown, Iowa, Smith received a bachelor’s degree in music from Iowa State University in 2015. She received a master’s degree in opera performance from the University of North Texas in 2018. She soloed with Denton Bach Society and collaborated with Trio Amaranti. Smith teaches at Dallas International School.
“One of my greatest interests is bringing classical music out of the concert hall and into the community,” Smith said.