William Byrd (1539 or 1540 – 1623) was an English organist and composer of the Shakespearean age. He developed the English madrigal and his virginal and organ music elevated the English keyboard style.

There is little information can be found about Byrd`s early life in London. He was a pupil of the organist Thomas Tallis. His first position was at Lincoln Cathedral in 1563 as an organist. In 1572 he returned to London to take a position as an organist at the Chapel Royal. He shared this position with his teacher Thomas Tallis. His personal and professional relationship with Tallis had important consequences. In 1575 Elisabeth I gave permission for a joint monopoly for importing, printing, publishing and sale music. Their first work was a collection of Cantiones sacrae dedicated to the queen. From the 34 motets, Tallis contributed 16 and Byrd 18. In 1577 Byrd moved to Harlington, Middlesex with his family. After Tallis death in 1585, Byrd published four collections from his own work: Psalmes, Sonets, & Songs of Sadnes and Pietie (1588), Songs of Sundrie Natures (1589), and two further books of Cantiones sacrae (1589 and 1591). In 1591 a manuscript volume of Byrd’s keyboard music was prepared and with many more keyboard pieces collected into an early 17<sup>th</sup>-century volume called Fitzwilliam Virginal Book. A well-known Catholic, Francis Tregian copied this book during his imprisonment in the Fleet Prison. Around 1593 Byrd moved with his family to Stondon Massey, Essex. The beginning of James I reign, the Catholic’s popularity grew. Probably this inspired Byrd`s next three publications, the three masses and two books of Gradualia(1605 and 1607). He provided a basic liturgical repertory comprising music for the Ordinary (for example the unvarying parts of the mass) and for the Proper (the parts of the mass that vary according to the day or the feast) of all main feast. He dedicated both books of Gradualia to prominent Catholics who ennobled during the first years of James`s reign. Byrd`s another publication was the Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets of 1611. It contained English sacred and secular music.

His virginal and organ music influenced other English composers, such as John Bull, Giles Farnaby, Orlando Gibbson and Thomas Tomkins. In music, he also played an important role of pioneering the development of the freely composed fantasia. Fantasia became the most important form of Jacobean and later composers.

Byrd composed both religious and secular music including masses, motets, polyphonic songs and instrumental works for keyboard and consorts. (Noble, 2020) (Kerman and McCarthy, 2014)

I choose two pieces from Byrd. The first is a secular music called the Pavan and 2 Galliards in A minor “The Earle of Salisbury”.

While I was listening this beautiful piece, I can imagine it as a song with accompaniment. It is in binary form and the contrapuntal texture is simple but effective. The melody is noble and dignified yet rhythmic. The first galliard has skipping rhythm at the beginning of the bar and the second galliard has an extra section as well as rhythmically more complex. There is an interesting passage can be heard in the second half of the first part, where two voices emerge with additional falling motifs. Nowadays, this piece widely played as a classical guitar piece and also popular in folkish circles.

The second piece was a sacred music from Byrd called Ave Verum Corpus.

As I was listening this piece, I can imagine a Church and the representation of the Catholic religion. This motet was written for four voices (SATB) and the text was Latin which clearly heard throughout the piece. The composer did not use any accompaniment. The music is simple but complex and dissonant. Byrd mixes the style with each phrase instead of using a 4-part polyphonic form throughout the piece. This allows the listener to understand the text while emotionally responding to the music.

References

Noble, J., 2020. William Byrd | English Composer. [online] Encyclopedia Britannica. Available at: <https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Byrd&gt; [Accessed 30 June 2020].

Kerman, J. and McCarthy, K., 2014. Openathens / Sign In. [online] Www-oxfordmusiconline-com.ucreative.idm.oclc.org. Available at: <https://www-oxfordmusiconline-com.ucreative.idm.oclc.org/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000004487&gt; [Accessed 31 June 2020]

Byrd, W., 2014. William Byrd Pavana The Earl Of Salisbury And Two Galliards. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NflGtpKVpjg&gt; [Accessed 31 June 2020]

Byrd, W., 2013. Ave Verum Corpus. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvVN54_FEHM&gt; [Accessed 31 June 2020]

Rushbury, H., n.d. William Byrd of Stondon Place, Composer and Musician (1558–1625). [image] Available at: <https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/william-byrd-of-stondon-place-composer-and-musician-15581625-3087&gt; [Accessed 9 July 2020]