William Byrd (1543-1623)

This week, Donald Macleod marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd, the greatest British musician of his age. Donald is joined all week by Byrd expert Kerry McCarthy to explore Byrd’s story and reveal a composer of determined ambition and powerful convictions. Those who encountered him, found Byrd could be a difficult adversary as well as a loyal friend. Donald also visits Essex to discover what remains of Byrd’s legacy in the places where he felt most at home, and to see how the composer navigated a hazardous path between his catholic faith and his duty to the crown at a time of great religious intolerance.

Music Featured:

O Lux Beata Trinitas
The Bells
Praise the Lord all Ye Gentiles
Have Mercy on me O God
Fantasia No 2
Laudibus in Sanctis
John come kiss me now
O You that hear this voice
In fields abroad
Galliard a6
Fantasia in A minor (extract)
O Lord Make thy Servant Elizabeth
Magnificat (Short Evening Service)
Te Deum (The Great Service)
In Nomine a5 (No 2)
Fantasia a6 in F
In Nomine a5 (No 3)
Domine Quis Habitabit
Fantasia in A minor
Laetentur coeli
Clarifica Me, I, II & III
Magnificat (The Great Service)
Peccantem me quotidie
Attollite portas
Come to me grief forever
All as a sea
As I beheld I saw a herdman wild
Gaudeamus omnes
Mass for 4 voices: Credo
Sellinger’s Round
Pavan 'Sir William Petre'
Ne irascaris Domine
Oh God that guides the cheerful sun
Haec dies
The Battell (extract)
Galiardo ‘Mrs. Mary Brownlow’
Responsum accepit Simeon
Nunc dimittis
Come Jolly Swains
Have Mercy on me, O God
Blow up the Trumpet
Galiardo ‘The Earle of Salisbury’
Tristitia et anxietas

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Chris Taylor

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for William Byrd (1543-1623) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001n819

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z