Hope everyone's been enjoying this week's COTW. I have, and admit to being utterly transported by viol consorts, with and without voices.
On Friday's episode, Donald seemed to get quite emotional at the Essex home of the Petre family!
BTW, the programme included a lovely performance of Ne Irascaris by Westminster Cathedral Choir under the direction of Martin Baker. Rather understated compared with the choir under previous directors, but in this case very poignant, especially the famous repetition of 'Jerusalem' in part 2.
On Friday's episode, Donald seemed to get quite emotional at the Essex home of the Petre family!
BTW, the programme included a lovely performance of Ne Irascaris by Westminster Cathedral Choir under the direction of Martin Baker. Rather understated compared with the choir under previous directors, but in this case very poignant, especially the famous repetition of 'Jerusalem' in part 2.
I was very taken with Byrd's galliards for keyboard - jaunty, lively pieces, completely in contrast to his music for the mass. Couldn't help wondering how many modern day composers of church music could come up with dance tunes capable of topping the download charts 
I was reminded of Eamon Duffy's book 'The Stripping of the Altars', a prizewinning account of the pre-reformation church in England that describes the church as much more lively and colourful than traditionally depicted by historians. It's always been a mystery to me how Byrd managed to maintain his political connections with the court and esape persecution when so many of his contemporaries perished. Highly recommended COTW if you missed it.
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