Wm Byrd: 18 April - 22 April

[french frank]

"There is frustratingly little evidence that Byrd was personally acquainted with his fellow Elizabethan, William Shakespeare. Although, a tantalising reference to “the bird of loudest lay” in Shakespeare’s sonnet, The Phoenix And The Turtle, hints that they may have been more than mere contemporaries. Byrd did move in celebrated circles, including his long service in the Queen’s Chapel Royal choir. In this first programme, Macleod explores how Byrd’s faith marked him out as an outsider, even as his talent led him to the very heart of the British musical establishment."

[R3's Shakespeare season begins at the end of this week]

[BBMmk2]

Thanks for the heads up on this Frenchie! :)

[ardcarp]

In this first programme, Macleod explores how Byrd’s faith marked him out as an outsider,

Lovely first programme! Interesting to hear that Byrd, ardent Catholic, was reared in a Protestant family.

[ardcarp]

I was hoping they wouldn't play the consort song, popularly known as Byrd's Lullaby. They did. My reasoning? It always reduces me to tears...and I was driving at the time. It did. I pulled over. It is surely one of the most sublime pieces of its (any?) time.

[doversoul1]

I am catching up with this BaL Wonderful music and lots of interesting information. Isn’t Byrd rather taken for granted in that his music is often used as a safe (guaranteed to be good) filler? Well, that’s besides, I am particularly enjoying his instrumental music.

Incidentally, next week’s Composer of the Week is Purcell.

[DracoM]

I was hoping they wouldn't play the consort song, popularly known as Byrd's Lullaby. They did. My reasoning? It always reduces me to tears...and I was driving at the time. It did. I pulled over. It is surely one of the most sublime pieces of its (any?) time.

Believe it or not, and I am ashamed to admit it. that is the first time I had heard it!!!!!
And, yes, it was for me THE find of the week!

[Richard Tarleton]

Believe it or not, and I am ashamed to admit it. that is the first time I had heard it!!!!!
And, yes, it was for me THE find of the week!

I too have the Fretwork CD - I must confess I normally skip over that track, not entirely sure why.....

A misprint on the website yesterday - the harpsichordist on the Naxos My Lady Nevell's Booke CD is Elizabeth, not Kathryn, Farr - at leasty Donald got it right! A tremendous 3 CD set, my favourite track CD2, track 12 - Will You Walke the Woods so Wilde. Byrd also composed a different set of variations on this tune for the lute, which is to be found on a marvellous CD by Nigel North (Go From My Window, Linn CKD 176).

[ardcarp]

Apart from a wonderful week of music, I learned so much about Byrd. Who would have believed that his bookshelves included diatribes against the Roman Church....one speculation being that in the event of a raid by the thought police he would have some Protestant credentials.

[light_calibre_baritone]

I was hoping they wouldn't play the consort song, popularly known as Byrd's Lullaby. They did. My reasoning? It always reduces me to tears...and I was driving at the time. It did. I pulled over. It is surely one of the most sublime pieces of its (any?) time.

Listen to the Nunc Dimittis a 5 from the Gradualia - on Spotify, alas nothing in youtube, there is a spirited Cardinall's Musick version and then a very insular, almost slow-mo version from JEG's Vigilate! album (which is incorrectly labelled as the Nunc from the Great Service) and is my fave.

[ardcarp]

Thanks l-c-b. It will be my first visit to Spotify too!

[Pulcinella]

Listen to the Nunc Dimittis a 5 from the Gradualia - on Spotify, alas nothing in youtube, there is a spirited Cardinall's Musick version and then a very insular, almost slow-mo version from JEG's Vigilate! album (which is incorrectly labelled as the Nunc from the Great Service) and is my fave.

Just listened to the version I have (William Byrd Choir/Gavin Turner, on helios) and can see its appeal.

If the liner notes are to be believed (and I'm not questioning them!) it seems only to get an outing on a Feast of the Purification of the BVM (2 February) that is after Septuagesima, as the tract, with a different provision if the feast is before Septuagesima! I haven't bothered to think about how often that happens.

Surely this makes it an even more special composition.

[DracoM]

Listen to the Nunc Dimittis a 5 from the Gradualia - on Spotify, alas nothing in youtube, there is a spirited Cardinall's Musick version and then a very insular, almost slow-mo version from JEG's Vigilate! album (which is incorrectly labelled as the Nunc from the Great Service) and is my fave.

Completely agree.

[light_calibre_baritone]

Just listened to the version I have (William Byrd Choir/Gavin Turner, on helios) and can see its appeal.

If the liner notes are to be believed (and I'm not questioning them!) it seems only to get an outing on a Feast of the Purification of the BVM (2 February) that is after Septuagesima, as the tract, with a different provision if the feast is before Septuagesima! I haven't bothered to think about how often that happens.

Surely this makes it an even more special composition.

V interesting! It also has no Gloria Patri - why might that be? Is it because chant would've taken care of that?

[light_calibre_baritone]

Completely agree.

[Pulcinella]

V interesting! It also has no Gloria Patri - why might that be? Is it because chant would've taken care of that?

I think its role as a tract is to replace the Alleluia in penitential periods, so maybe a Gloria Patri would be similarly inappropriate in such a period?