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