Sunday, 9th Jan 2022
R3 Drama:
William Byrd - Five episodes in his life
William Byrd, as he writes his major work, the Gradualia.
With David Suchet and written by DJ Britton.
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Sunday, 9th Jan 2022
R3 Drama:
William Byrd - Five episodes in his life
William Byrd, as he writes his major work, the Gradualia.
With David Suchet and written by DJ Britton. -
Thanks DrakoM - that looks good.
I wonder if it's a concatenated version of the five part series from July?
To Preserve the Health of Man
David Suchet stars as the English Renaissance composer William Byrd, 'The Father of English Music'. In five imagined encounters, Byrd looks back at key influences in his life and work, as he composes his major liturgical work, the Gradualia, a collection of 109 pieces written for each of the feasts and events in the Church calendar.
Episode 1 of 5
Mon 19 Jul 2021 22:45, BBC Radio 3
Advent 1603. As a Catholic, Byrd enjoyed the patronage and protection of Elizabeth I but now, the early years of James I bring change and turbulence and a renewed threat to Catholics following the Reformation. Byrd's wife, Juliana, convinces him not to be afraid and to continue with his composition.
Written by D.J. Britton
William Byrd ..... David Suchet
Juliana Byrd ..... Sara Kestelman
Music performed by Odyssean Ensemble and recorded at the Chapel Royal, Tower of London
Music Director, Colm Carey
Sound, Nigel Lewis and Catherine Robinson
Directed by Alison Hindell
BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC Radio 3
The title is from a quote by William Byrd: 'The exercise of singing is delightful to nature, and good to preserve the health of man.'
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Certainly looks like it.......!!!!Comment
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Thanks for the heads-up!Comment
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I very much enjoyed the 5 parter edition. I'd be happy to listen again....Comment
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The whole was better than its parts - exceptionally good.Comment
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Agreed. It was a terrific play - really powerful.Originally posted by Frances_iom View PostComment
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It reminded me of R3's 1991 "Carver" by John Purser - it was a Giles Cooper Award.
I'm sure "To Preserve the Health of Man" would also have been a winner for 2021/2 - but sadly the award is no more (and there's a dearth of decent radio drama to compete against).
John Purser 's Carver is set in the mid-16th century; it contrasts the radiance of Robert Carver 's music with the earthiness of his character and the destructive force of the reformation.
Music: Taverner Consort , director Andrew Parrott.
Carver: Tom FlemingComment
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I do notice that the afternoon plays on Radio 4 have a surfeit of one person or limited cast number efforts. No doubt Covid meant that was a necessity to some degree but I also suspect its cost cutting into the bone of production costs. As those plays often dwell on "issues" and other preoccupations of the BBC, I often have few regrets as I switch over to R3 or into some other listening matter. I'm sure they find their replacement audience from the rising generations........Originally posted by AuntDaisy View Post
As you say, worthy of an award - one of the best I have heard this last year.Comment
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Going back to the early 1990s, I have fond memories of Stephen Wyatt's play 'Fairest Isle' about Henry Purcell's collaboration with John Dryden on 'King Arthur.'Originally posted by AuntDaisy View PostComment
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Yes, an excellent play - and what a cast! Benjamin Whitrow, Barbara Jefford, John Rowe, John Shrapnel...Originally posted by W.Kearns View Post
His 2015 "Finlandia" was also good - with Tim Pigott-Smith & Barbara Flynn.
I'm not sure if youngsters listen to Radio drama - too busy with Podcasts of Tearjerker / Downtown Symphony / GameplayOriginally posted by Cockney Sparrow View Post
Yes, R4 drama is not what it used to be. Over Christmas, I listened to R4's 1986/7 series Crime at Christmas & Murder for Christmas.
Sadly, the rot set in years ago, starting with the wanton destruction of the Radio Rep (BBC Radio Drama Repertory Company).
Here's a photo from a 2013 Broadcasting House visit (we saw Shirley being recorded) highlighting the BBC Radio Drama Company - the vast total of three actor's photos!
Then read the 1999 Equity article reproduced on Nigel's Diversity website and dream of a 40 strong cast of experienced actors.
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I've just listened to the play and was totally absorbed by it. A brilliant job by the playwright merging fact with a (mainly excellent) script...not easy.
The musical interpolations were just right too. I have to admit to fighting back the tears during Ye Sacred Muses (Tallis is Dead). A viol consort plus a straight solo voice often has that effect on me, so no surprise. Does anyone know which countertenor and which viol consort was involved? The Odyssean Ensemble was billed as providing the music, but there was nothing specific mentioned about that item.
Two tiny bits of the script jumped out at me as not being quite right. Firstly it was said that Byrd's secret Catholic Masses were 'sung in a priest hole'. If anyone has seen a priest-hole, that seems unlikely! Its function was to hide a priest, usually in a very small hidden recess, not to celebrate Mass. The second was the manipulating of a well-known saw, thus, "Polyphony is the Mother of Invention". It didn't quite make sense to me. The other way round would have been better, but I'm just quibbling over a very minor detail.
It was a great idea for a play, and very well done. Thanks to all concerned.Comment
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Originally posted by ardcarp View Post
It does look a tight squeeze - video in link below...
These singers climbed into a forbidden 16th-century priest hole to sing a Byrd mass
A powerful piece of history – performing a beautiful Agnus Dei by William Byrd in a historic hiding place
The National Trust house, Oxburgh was built in 1482 by the Catholic Bedingfeld family.
During the 16th century, England was officially Protestant and practising Catholics were prosecuted – even put to death. A priest hole was a small room, usually accessed by secret doors and corridors. They were used to hide the outlawed Catholic priests and avoid detection by Protestant authorities.
While singing a series of concerts at the house last weekend, Eboracum Baroque decided to combine music and history in a very unique way.
The quartet went into the house's priest hole to sing the music of William Byrd.
Renaissance composer William Byrd was a committed Catholic, and his music often reflected the hardship, fear and strain of practising his faith at the time. In his compositions he set Latin words in a mood of private devotion, and his writing was often full of anguished harmonies and long, yearning lines.
The Agnus Dei is the final moment of a Catholic Mass setting, asking for mercy and peace. You can follow Eboracum Baroque here, and find out more about their projects on their website.Comment
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