The Passionate Pilgrim

"Some years ago I was commissioned to compose a piece for the Renaissance lute, a wedding present from the bride to her groom. The title she chose, The Passionate Pilgrim, refers to a collection of Shakespeare sonnets, poems, and works by other Elizabethan authors. John Dowland’s As I went to Walsingham was a model for this piece, utilizing a songlike melody with harmonic accompaniment, followed by a set of divisions (variations). While transcribing the score, I found myself re-composing several passages and creating a new version better suited for the guitar. " - Frederic Hand, composer