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William Byrd
1543 - July 4, 1623
born in Lincolnshire, England, composed during the Renaissance period
born in Lincolnshire, England, composed during the Renaissance period
Even in an era so richly stocked with great names, William Byrd demands particular attention as the most prodigiously talented, prolific, and versatile composer of his contemporaries. Byrd was born in about 1543, and it is assumed that he was a chorister in the Chapel Royal (his brothers were choristers at St. Paul's Cathedral) and a student of Thomas Tallis. He was named organist and master of choristers of Lincoln Cathedral at the age of 20, where he wrote most of his works in English and music for Anglican services. This music and his anthems provided the young English church with some of its finest music. In 1570 he was appointed a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, where he shared the post of organist with Thomas Tallis. Queen Elizabeth I, despite Byrd's intense commitment to Catholicism, was one of his benefactors, and granted him and Tallis a patent to print music in 1575. Their first publication was a collection of five- to eight-part, Latin motets, but they published little else. Around the same time, Byrd began composing for the virginal. His contribution to the solo keyboard repertoire comprises some 125 pieces, mostly stylized dances or exceptionally inventive sets of variations which inaugurated a golden age of English keyboard composition.
During the 1580s and 1590s, Byrd's Catholicism was the driving motive for his music. As the persecutions of Catholics increased during this period, and occasionally touched on Byrd and his family, he wrote and openly published motets and three masses (one each in three, four, and five parts), which are his finest achievement in sacred music, almost certainly composed for small chapel gatherings of Catholics. Byrd had taken up the publishing business again, printing the first English songbook, Psalmes, Sonets and Songs in 1588. This and his other songbooks include Byrd's compositions in the leading secular genres of the day: the ayre or lute song, the madrigal, and the consort song for solo voice and viols. The consort song's finest hour came at the hands of Byrd, who preferred texts of a high moral (frequently religious) or metaphysical tone. They are notable for the way the viol parts lead an existence independent of the vocal line. He openly published two Gradualia in 1605 and 1607, with music for the Propers of all the major feast days. His last collection, Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets from 1611, consisted mostly of previously published works, but did include two of his viol consort works. Byrd is at his most distinguished in the free fantasias for consort, particularly the later pieces in five and six parts, works of exceptionally luxurious texture. Byrd's last songs were published in 1614, and he lived out his life comfortably at Stondon Massey, where he died in 1623. ~ All Music Guide, Rovi
During the 1580s and 1590s, Byrd's Catholicism was the driving motive for his music. As the persecutions of Catholics increased during this period, and occasionally touched on Byrd and his family, he wrote and openly published motets and three masses (one each in three, four, and five parts), which are his finest achievement in sacred music, almost certainly composed for small chapel gatherings of Catholics. Byrd had taken up the publishing business again, printing the first English songbook, Psalmes, Sonets and Songs in 1588. This and his other songbooks include Byrd's compositions in the leading secular genres of the day: the ayre or lute song, the madrigal, and the consort song for solo voice and viols. The consort song's finest hour came at the hands of Byrd, who preferred texts of a high moral (frequently religious) or metaphysical tone. They are notable for the way the viol parts lead an existence independent of the vocal line. He openly published two Gradualia in 1605 and 1607, with music for the Propers of all the major feast days. His last collection, Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets from 1611, consisted mostly of previously published works, but did include two of his viol consort works. Byrd is at his most distinguished in the free fantasias for consort, particularly the later pieces in five and six parts, works of exceptionally luxurious texture. Byrd's last songs were published in 1614, and he lived out his life comfortably at Stondon Massey, where he died in 1623. ~ All Music Guide, Rovi
Selected Discography
x
Track List: Byrd: 3 Masses
Title: Mass For 5 Voices (Sattb)
Title: Mass For 4 Voices (Satb)
Title: Mass For 3 Voices (ATB)
Title: Ave Verum Corpus (also Anthem: "O Lord, God Of Israel"), Motet For 4 Voices (SATB)
x
Track List: Byrd: Consort and Keyboard Music; Songs and Anthems
Title: Pavan And Galliard A 6, For Instrumental Consort In C Major
Title: Susanna Fair, For Keyboard
Title: Rejoice Unto The Lord, Sacred Song For Voice & 4 Viols
Title: John Come Kiss Me Now, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 81
Title: Fantasia, For Keyboard In C Major, No. 2, Mb 25 "A Fancie"
Title: Have Mercy Upon Me, O God, Consort Song For S Or A Solo, SSATTB & Organ Or Strings (inc. But Can Be Reconstructed)
Title: In Nomine A 4, For Instrumental Consort No. 2
Title: In Angel's Weed (also: "Is Sydney Dead?"), Consort Song For Voice & 4 Viols
Title: Fair Britain Isle, Song For Voice & 4 Viols
Title: Psalms, Songs, And Sonets... Fit For Voyces Or Viols, For 3-6 Voices
Title: Triumph With Pleasant Melody Voices, Consort Song For Voices & 4 Viols
Title: Pavan, For Keyboard In A Minor No. 4, Mb 17
Title: Qui Passe (Chi Passa) For My Lady Nevell, For Keyboard, Mb 19
Title: Fantasia A 3, For Instrumental Consort No. 3 In C Major
Title: In Nomine A 5, For Instrumental Consort No. 5
Title: Christ Rising Again, Motet For 6 Voices (SSATTB) (part 1 Of A 2-part Motet; See "Christ Is Risen Again")
x
Track List: Byrd: Mass for Four Voices; Mass for Five Voices; Infelix ego
Title: Mass For 4 Voices (Satb)
Title: Infelix Ego, Motet For 6 Voices (SMez ATBarB)
Title: Mass For 5 Voices (Sattb)
x
Track List: Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke
Disc 1
Title: My Lady Nevell's Ground, For Keyboard, Mb 57
Title: Qui Passe (Chi Passa) For My Lady Nevell, For Keyboard, Mb 19
Title: The March Before The Battle, Or, The Earl Of Oxford's March, For Keyboard, Mb 93
Title: The Battle, For Keyboard, Mb 94
Title: Gaillard For The Victory, For Keyboard, Mb 95
Title: The Barley Break, For Keyboard, Mb 92
Title: Galliard Jig, For Keyboard, Mb 18
Title: The Hunt's Up, Or Pescodd's Time, Mb 40
Title: Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La, For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 64
Title: Pavan & Gaillard, For Keyboard In C Minor No. 1, Mb 29
Title: Pavan & Gaillard, For Keyboard In G Major No. 2, MB 71
Title: Pavan & Galliard, For Keyboard In A Minor, No. 1, Mb 14
Disc 2
Title: Pavan & Gaillard, For Keyboard In C Major No. 1, MB 30
Title: Pavan & Gaillard, For Keyboard In C Minor No. 2, MB 31
Title: Pavan & Galliard ("Kinbourough Good"), For Keyboard In C Major, No. 2, Mb 32
Title: Pavan ("Canon 2 In 1"), For Keyboard In G Major No. 6, Mb 74
Title: Pavan, For Keyboard In A Minor No. 4, Mb 17
Title: Pavan & Galliard ("Passamezzo"), For Keyboard In G Minor No. 1, Mb 2
Title: Fantasia (Voluntary For My Lady Neville), For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 61
Title: The Woods So Wild, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 85
Title: The Maiden's Song, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 82
Title: Fantasia, For Keyboard In C Major, MB 26
Title: Ground ("The Seconde Grownde"), For Keyboard In C Major, MB 42
Disc 3
Title: Walsingham, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 8
Title: All In A Garden Green, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 56
Title: Rowland (or "Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home"), Variations For Keyboard, MB 7
Title: The Carman's Whistle, Air & Variations For Keyboard, MB 36
Title: Hugh Aston's Ground, For Keyboard, MB 20
Title: Fantasia, For Keyboard In C Major, No. 2, Mb 25 "A Fancie"
Title: Sellinger's Round, Variations For Keyboard, MB 84
Title: Alman (Monsieur's Alman), For Keyboard In G Major, No. 1, Mb 87
Title: Prelude For Keyboard In G Minor, Mb 1
Title: Pavan & Galliard ("Sir William Petre"), For Keyboard In G Minor No. 2, Mb 3
Title: Fantasy, For Keyboard In D Minor, Mb 46
Title: Fantasia, For Keyboard In C Major, No. 3, MB 27
x
Track List: Music Of William Byrd
Title: Rejoice Unto The Lord, Sacred Song For Voice & 4 Viols
Title: Pavan & Galliard ("Ph. Tregian"), For Keyboard In F Major, No. 2, Mb 60
Title: Who Made Thee, Hob, Forsake The Plough?, Dialogue For 2 Voices & 4 Viols
Title: Browning A 5, For Instrumental Consort ("The Leaves Bee Greene")
Title: Work(s)
Title: Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La, For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 64
Title: Fantasia A 4, For Instrumental Consort In G Major (first Part Only)
Title: Delight Is Dead, Song For Voices & Viols
Title: Farewell False Love, Song For Voice & 4 Viols
Title: Work(s)
Title: My Mistress Had A Little Dog, Consort Song For Voices & 4 Viols
Title: The Maiden's Song, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 82
Title: Ye Sacred Muses (elegy For Thomas Tallis), Consort Song For Voice & 4 Viols
x
Track List: The Byrd Edition 4: Cantiones Sacrae 1575
x
Track List: The Byrd Edition, Vol. 1: Early Latin Church Music & Propers for Lady Mass in Advent
Title: Domine Quis Habitabit, Motet For 9 Voices (SSAATTBBB)
Title: Omni Tempore Benedic Deum, Motet For 5 Voices (SATTB)
Title: Christe Redemptor A 4, For Instrumental Consort
Title: Sermone Blando A 4, For Instrumental Consort, No. 2
Title: Miserere A 4, For Instrumental Consort
Title: Ne Perdas Cum Impiis, Motet For 5 Voices (SATTB)
Title: De Lamentatione Jeremiae, Motet For 5 Voices (ATTBarB) (inc. But Can Be Reconstructed)
Title: Prospers For Lady Mass In Advent A5
Title: Alma Redemptoris Mater, Motet For 4 Voices (SATB)
Title: Christe Qui Lux Es (a 5), Motet For 5 Voices (SATTB)
Title: Christe Qui Lux Es (a 4), Motet For 4 Voices (SATB)
Title: Sanctus, For 3 Voices (doubtful)
Title: Audivi Vocem, Motet For 5 Voices (SAATB)
Title: Vide Dominum Quoniam Tribulor, Motet For 5 Voices (SMezATB) (doubtful)
Title: Peccavi Super Numerum, Motet For 5 Voices (SATTB)
x
Track List: The William Byrd Edition, Vol 2: Early Latin Church Music & Propers For Christmas
Title: Ave Regina Caelorum, Motet For 5 Voices (SAATB)
Title: O Salutaris Hostia, Motet For 6 Voices (SAATTB)
Title: Alleluia. Confitemini Domino, Motet For 3 Voices (ATB)
Title: Work(s)
Title: Puer Natus Est Nobis, Motet For 4 Voices (SATB)
Title: Viderunt... Omnes Terra, Motet For 4 Voices (SATB) (for Gradual, With "Dies Sanctificas")
Title: Tui Sunt Coeli, Motet For 4 Voices (SATB)
Title: Viderunt... Omnes Terra, Motet For 4 Voices (SATB) (for Gradual, With "Dies Sanctificas")
Title: Hodie Christus Natus Est, Motet For 4 Voices (SATB)
Title: O Admirabile Commercium, Motet For 4 Voices (SATB)
Title: O Magnum Misterium, Motet For 4 Voices (SATB)
Title: Decantabat Populus In Israel, Motet For 5 Voices (SATTB) (doubtful)
Title: Work(s)
Title: Deus, In Adjutorium, Motet For 6 Voices (SMezAATB) (inc. But Can Be Reconstructed)
x
Track List: The William Byrd Edition, Vol. 5: The Masses
Title: Fantasia A 4, For Instrumental Consort In D Minor (doubtful)
Title: Mass For 4 Voices (Satb)
Title: Fantasia (Voluntary For My Lady Neville), For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 61
Title: Mass For 3 Voices (ATB)
Title: Fantasia A 5, For Instrumental Consort In C Major
Title: Mass For 5 Voices (Sattb)
x
Track List: The William Byrd Edition, Vol. 7: Cantiones Sacrae 1589 & Propers for Lady Mass from Christmas to Purification
Title: Defecit In Dolore, Motet For 5 Voices (AATTB Or SSAAT (or B))
Title: Domine Praestolamur, Motet For 5 Voices (SAATB)
Title: O Domine Adjuva Me, Motet For 5 Voices (SAATB)
Title: Tristitia Et Anxietas, Motet For 5 Voices (SAATB)
Title: Propers For The Mass Of Corpus Christi, For 4 Voices (Gradualia, Book 1)
Title: Memento Domine, Motet For 5 Voices (SAATB)
Title: Vide Domine Afflictionem, Motet For 5 Voices (SATBarB)
Title: Deus Venerunt Gentes, Motet For 5 Voices (SAATB)
Title: Domine, Tu Jurasti, Motet For 5 Voices (SAATB)
x
Track List: The William Byrd Edition, Vol. 8: Cantiones Sacrae 1589 & Propers for the Purification
Title: Vigilate, Motet Or 5 Voices (SATBarB)
Title: In Resurrectione Tua, Motet For 5 Voices (SATBB)
Title: Aspice Domine De Sede, Motet For 5 Voices (SATTB)
Title: Ne Irascaris (Also Anthems: "Let Not Thy Wrath" & "O Lord, Turn Thy Wrath"), Motet For 5 Voices (Satbar (Or T) B)
Title: Gradualia Ac Cantiones Sacrae, Liber Primus, For 3-5 Voices
Title: O Quam Gloriosum, Motet For 5 Voices (SSATB)
Title: Tribulations Civitatum, Motet For 5 Voices (SATBarB)
Title: Domine Secundum Multitudinem, Motet For 5 Voices (SATTB)
Title: Laetentur Coeli, Motet For 5 Voices (Smexatb)
x
Track List: William Byrd: Consort Songs
Title: My Mind To Me A Kingdom Is, Consort Song For Voices & 4 Viols
Title: Fantasia A 6, For Instrumental Consort No. 3 In G Minor
Title: O Lord, How Vain, Sacred Song For Voice & 4 Viols
Title: Content Is Rich, Consort Song For Voice & Viols
Title: Constant Penelope, Madrigal For 5 Voices
Title: Pavan And Galliard A 6, For Instrumental Consort In C Major
Title: My Mistress Had A Little Dog, Consort Song For Voices & 4 Viols
Title: O That Most Rare Breast, Song For Voice & 4 Viols
Title: The Noble Famous Queen (also "While Phoebus Used To Dwell"), Consort Song For Voice & 4 Viols
Title: Fantasia A 4, For Instrumental Consort In G Major (first Part Only)
Title: Out Of The Orient Crystal Skies, Consort Song For Voice & 4 Viols
Title: O Lord, Bow Down, Consort Song For Voices & 4 Viols
Title: Fantasia A 6, For Instrumental Consort No. 2 In G Minor
Title: Truth At The First, Consort Song For Voices & 4 Viols
Title: O You That Hear This Voice, Consort Song For Voice & 4 Viols
Title: He That All Eathly Pleasure Scorns, Consort Song For Voice & 4 Viols
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Track List: William Byrd: Consort Songs
x
Track List: William Byrd: The Complete Keyboard Music
Disc 1
Title: Rowland (or "Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home"), Variations For Keyboard, MB 7
Title: The Bells, Ground For Keyboard, MB 38
Title: French Corantos (3), For Keyboard, MB 21
Title: Hugh Aston's Ground, For Keyboard, MB 20
Title: Callino Casturame, Variations For Keyboard, MB 35
Title: Work(s)
Title: The Carman's Whistle, Air & Variations For Keyboard, MB 36
Title: Sellinger's Round, Variations For Keyboard, MB 84
Title: In Nomine (Parsons), For Keyboard, MB 51 (by Parsons, Arr. By Byrd)
Title: Ground ("The Seconde Grownde"), For Keyboard In C Major, MB 42
Title: Hornpipe, For Keyboard, Mb 39
Title: Miserere (I), For Keyboard, Mb 66
Title: Miserere (II), For Keyboard, Mb 67
Disc 2
Title: Pavan & Galliard ("Delight" Or "Johnson's"), For Keyboard, Mb 5, (By Johnson, Arr. By Byrd)
Title: Prelude For Keyboard In C Major, Mb 24
Title: Galliard ("Mistress Mary Brownlow"), For Keyboard In C Major, No. 4, Mb 34
Title: Praeludium For Keyboard, Mb 115
Title: Pavan & Galliard ("Ph. Tregian"), For Keyboard In F Major, No. 2, Mb 60
Title: Alman, For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 11
Title: Pavan & Gaillard, For Keyboard In C Major No. 3, Mb 33
Title: Walsingham, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 8
Title: Pavan & Galliard ("Lachrymae"), For Keyboard (Pavan By Dowland, Galliard By Harding; Arr. By Byrd)
Title: Galliard ("Harding's"), For Keyboard (By Harding, Arr. By Byrd)
Title: The Barley Break, For Keyboard, Mb 92
Title: Pavane & 2 Galliards ("The Earle Of Salisbury"), For Keyboard In A Minor, No. 2 , Mb 15
Title: Pavan ("Echo") & Galliard, For Keyboard In G Major No. 5, Mb 114 (Doubtful)
Title: Wolsey's Wild (Wilson's Wild), Variations For Keyboard, Mb 37
Title: Jig, For Keyboard In A Minor, Mb 22
Title: Praeludium For Keyboard, Mb 116
Title: John Come Kiss Me Now, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 81
Disc 3
Title: Christe Qui Lux, Bk121
Title: Prelude For Keyboard In A Minor, Mb 12
Title: A Voluntaire, Bk 27
Title: Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La, For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 64
Title: Ut Mi Re, For Keyboard, Mb 65
Title: Gloria Tibi Trinitas, For Keyboard, Mb 50
Title: Miserere (I), For Keyboard, Mb 66
Title: Miserere (II), For Keyboard, Mb 67
Title: Fantasia (Verse), For Keyboard In C Major, No. 4, Mb 28
Title: Ground (Short), For Keyboard In C Major, Mb 43
Title: Fantasy, For Keyboard In D Minor, Mb 46
Title: Fantasia, For Keyboard In C Major, No. 2, Mb 25 "A Fancie"
Title: Ground (Short), For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 9
Title: Clarifica Me Pater (I), For Keyboard, Mb 47
Title: Clarifica Me Pater (II), For Keyboard, Mb 48
Title: Clarifica Me Pater (III), For Keyboard, Mb 49
Title: Fantasia, For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 62
Title: Salvator Mundi, For Keyboard, Mb 68
Title: Salvator Mundi, For Keyboard, Mb 69
Title: Fantasia (Voluntary For My Lady Neville), For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 61
Disc 4
Title: The Woods So Wild, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 85
Title: Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La, For Keyboard In F Major, Mb 58
Title: Go From My Window, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 79
Title: Fantasia, For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 62
Title: Fortune, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 6
Title: Fantasia, For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 63
Title: Corranto, For Keyboard In C Major, Mb 45
Title: The Maiden's Song, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 82
Title: Ground (Short), For Keyboard In G Minor, Mb 86
Title: Fantasy, For Keyboard In D Minor, Mb 46
Title: O Quam Gloriosum Est Regnum, For Keyboard
Title: The Hunt's Up, Or Pescodd's Time, Mb 40
Disc 5
Title: O Mistress Mine, For Keyboard, Mb 83
Title: Lavolta, For Keyboard No. 2 In G Minor, Mb 91
Title: Pavan ("Quadran") & Galliard, For Keyboard In G No. 1, Mb 70
Title: Ground (Short), For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 9
Title: If My Complaints (Or Pyper's Galliard), Bk118
Title: Alman (The Queen's Alman), For Keyboard, Mb 10
Title: Pavan & Galliard, For Keyboard In B Flat Major, Mb 23
Title: Pavan & Galliard ("Bray"), For Keyboard In F Major No. 1, Mb 59
Title: Lavolta (Lady Morley), For Keyboard No. 1 In G Minor, Mb 90
Title: Pavan & Galliard, For Keyboard, Nos. 4a/4b, Mb 4
Title: Gypsies' Round, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 80
Title: Pavan & Gaillard, For Keyboard In D Minor No. 1, Mb 52
Title: Galliard, For Keyboard In D Minor No. 2, Mb 53
Title: Alman, For Keyboard In G Minor, Mb 89
Title: Pavan, For Keyboard In G Major No. 8, Mb 76
Title: Gaillard, For Keyboard In G Major, No. 9, Mb 77
Title: Alman, For Keyboard, Mb 117
Title: Galliard Jig, For Keyboard, Mb 18
Title: Pavan & Gaillard, For Keyboard In G Major No. 4, Mb 73
Disc 6
Title: Qui Passe (Chi Passa) For My Lady Nevell, For Keyboard, Mb 19
Title: Fantasia, For Keyboard In C Major, No. 2, Mb 25 "A Fancie"
Title: Pavan & Gaillard, For Keyboard In C Minor No. 1, Mb 29
Title: The Second Pavian & Galliard, Mb 71
Title: Pavan & Galliard, For Keyboard In A Minor, No. 1, Mb 14
Title: The Fourth Pavian & Galliarde, Mb 30
Title: The Fifte Pavian & Galliarde, MB 31
Title: Pavan & Galliard ("Kinbourough Good"), For Keyboard In C Major, No. 2, Mb 32
Title: Pavan ("Canon 2 In 1"), For Keyboard In G Major No. 6, Mb 74
Title: Pavan, For Keyboard In A Minor No. 4, Mb 17
Title: Pavan & Galliard ("Passamezzo"), For Keyboard In G Minor No. 1, Mb 2
Title: My Lady Nevell's Ground, For Keyboard, Mb 57
Title: Fantasia (Voluntary For My Lady Neville), For Keyboard In G Major, Mb 61
Disc 7
Title: Prelude For Keyboard In G Minor, Mb 1
Title: Pavan & Galliard ("Sir William Petre"), For Keyboard In G Minor No. 2, Mb 3
Title: The March Before The Battle, Or, The Earl Of Oxford's March, For Keyboard, Mb 93
Title: The Battle, For Keyboard, Mb 94
Title: Gaillard For The Victory, For Keyboard, Mb 95
Title: All In A Garden Green, Variations For Keyboard, Mb 56
Title: Alman (Monsieur's Alman), For Keyboard In G Major, No. 1, Mb 87
Title: Alman (Monsieur's Alman), For Keyboard In G Major, No. 2, Mb 88
Title: Alman (The Ghost), For Keyboard, Mb 78
Title: Alman (Monsieur's Alman), For Keyboard In C Major, Mb 44
Title: Pavan & Gaillard, For Keyboard In A Minor No. 3, Mb 16
Title: Paven & Galiard, Mb 100
Title: Pavan ("Lady Monteagle's Pavan"), For Keyboard In G Major No. 7, Mb 75
Title: Pavan & Gaillard, For Keyboard In G Major No. 3, Mb 72
Title: Prelude For Keyboard In A Minor, Mb 12
Title: Fantasia, For Keyboard In A Minor, Mb 13
x
Track List: William Byrd: The Great Service: Anthems
Title: The Great Service, For 5-10 Voices
Title: O Lord, Make Thy Servant Elizabeth, Anthem For 6 Voices (SAATTB)
Title: O God, The Proud Are Risen, Anthem For 6 Voices (SSAATB)
Title: Sing Joyfully, Anthem For 6 Voices (SSAATB)
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