WRJAWTA: Which Robert Johnson Are We Talking About?

Earlier, we covered Robert Leroy Johnson, an American blues singer & guitarist (1911-1938 and henceforth RJ3 in this post) for reasons that will quickly become self explanatory. Part of that discussion was about the controversy over photographs of RJ3. The BBC covered RJ3 in a six part series entitled 'Hellhound On His Trail-Robert Johnson Story'

There is another Robert Johnson, a composer & lutenist (c.1583-c.1634 and henceforth RJ2 in this post to distinguish him from an earlier Scottish composer) of whom there are inarguably no photographs extant. RJ2 was a musical collaborator wih playright William Shakespeare (1554-1615) at a time before the invention of photography. If you want an argument about the authenticity of Shakespeare, you should look elsewhere. The headline picture is of Lucy Skeeping, a presenter on the 'Early Music Show' from BBC Radio 3. You can read about the selection of music played in the Sat. 24 Sep. 2011 edition of the show that featured RJ2, but unfortunately the show itself is no longer available on the BBC iPlayer Radio.

The tracklist for the RJ2 edition of the 'Early Music Show' includes details of commercial albums of music by RJ2, who famously created the accompanying music for Shakespeare's 'Tempest' in 1611, as well as many other plays by the leading playwrights of his day. In addition to music by RJ2, the show featured an extract from the Jericho House Theatre Company in a then new anniversary production of the 'Tempest', and comment from its director, Jonathan Holmes, who is also a Shakespeare scholar and who believes that the influence of RJ2 on Shakespeare might have been greater than he's often given credit for—so what's new in the music biz?

The Wikipedia entry for RJ2 has a list of his recorded works: at 27 that is two less than the 29 usually credited to RJ3. These numbers may be arguable by scholars, but they are mentioned here only to give an idea of the amounts that survive from the two musicians. In contrast, AllMusic.com lists 106 albums and 741 compilations of work by Bing Crosby.

The "time-shifting, non-commercial, personal, private use only" website lotaugasih.com has a page of RJ2 music: presumably, if you meet the stated criteria, it's legal to listen or download. If in doubt seek the advice a qualified attorney. The website Medieval.org has a Shakespeare's Lutenist page devoted to the homonymous album, subtitled 'Theatre Music by Robert Johnson', by Emma Kirkby (soprano), David Thomas (bass), and Anthony Rooley (lute), which seems to be the standard by which all others are judged. Visit your favorite music store to purchase these delights.