O Lord, make thy servant Elizabeth (William Byrd)

Music files

Dedicated to Elizabeth

• (Posted 2021-03-22)  CPDL #63627: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2021-03-22).   Score information: A4, 14 pages, 235 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. Underlay included for later sovereigns.

• (Posted 2020-06-03)  CPDL #59024:     

Editor: Gary D. Cannon (submitted 2020-06-03).   Score information: Letter, 5 pages, 83 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

• (Posted 2017-11-18)  CPDL #47456:       

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2017-11-18).   Score information: A4, 6 pages, 106 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: A bar-less edition of the anthem.

• (Posted 2006-01-08)  CPDL #10653:   

Editor: Diana Thompson (submitted 2006-01-08).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 130 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Transposed up a minor third. Includes a keyboard reduction of the a cappella choral score.

• (Posted 2005-10-19)  CPDL #09987:   

Editor: Robin Doveton (submitted 2005-10-19).   Score information: A4, 6 pages, 199 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Transposed up a major 3rd. Revised Sept 2020.

• (Posted 2004-01-15)  CPDL #06496:        (Finale 2000)

Editor: Sabine Cassola (submitted 2004-01-15).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 152 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

• (Posted 2002-05-30)  CPDL #03650: 

Editor: Rupert Preston Bell (submitted 2002-05-30).   Score information: A4, 6 pages, 46 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: for ATTBBB

Dedicated to Charles, and other Monarchs

L E G E N D

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• (Posted 2023-01-31)  CPDL #72478:     

Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31).   Score information: A4, 8 pages, 156 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: This edition is transposed a minor third above the original written pitch, and is scored for SAATTB. This pitch is suggested for most choirs with this distribution. A contemporary organ part is provided, but this setting may also be sung unaccompanied. This version of the work is a reconstruction of the form in which is was performed at Cambridge in the late 1620s. This includes alterations to the music compared to earlier sources, and period musica ficta and ornamentation, all derived from sources in Cambridge in the 1620s. It is texted to ‘Charles our King’.

• (Posted 2023-01-31)  CPDL #72477:     

Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31).   Score information: A4, 8 pages, 156 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: This edition is transposed a fourth above the original written pitch, and is scored for SAATTB. This pitch is suggested for choirs who would prefer not to use an edition in four flats, and whose basses are comfortable in a high register. A contemporary organ part is provided, but this setting may also be sung unaccompanied. This version of the work is a reconstruction of the form in which is was performed at Cambridge in the late 1620s. This includes alterations to the music compared to earlier sources, and period musica ficta and ornamentation, all derived from sources in Cambridge in the 1620s. It is texted to ‘Charles our King’.

• (Posted 2023-01-31)  CPDL #72476:     

Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31).   Score information: A4, 8 pages, 157 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: This edition is transposed a tone above the original written pitch, and is scored for SAATTB. This pitch is suggested for choirs who would prefer not to use an edition in four flats, and whose altos are comfortable in a low register. A contemporary organ part is provided, but this setting may also be sung unaccompanied. This version of the work is a reconstruction of the form in which is was performed at Cambridge in the late 1620s. This includes alterations to the music compared to earlier sources, and period musica ficta and ornamentation, all derived from sources in Cambridge in the 1620s. It is texted to ‘Charles our King’.

• (Posted 2023-01-31)  CPDL #72475:     

Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31).   Score information: A4, 8 pages, 156 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: This edition is set at the original written pitch, and is scored for ATTBBB. A contemporary organ part is provided, but this setting may also be sung unaccompanied. This version of the work is a reconstruction of the form in which is was performed at Cambridge in the late 1620s. This includes alterations to the music compared to earlier sources, and period musica ficta and ornamentation, all derived from sources in Cambridge in the 1620s. It is texted to ‘Charles our King’.

General Information

Title: O Lord, make Thy servant Elizabeth
Composer: William Byrd

Number of voices: 6vv   Voicings: SAATTB or ATTBBB
Genre: Sacred, Anthem

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

    Manuscript 1580 in Dow Partbooks, no. 57
    Manuscript c. 1625-1640 in the Peterhouse Partbooks: Former Caroline Set (John Cosin)
    Manuscript c. 1625-1640 in the Peterhouse Partbooks: Latter Caroline Set (John Cosin)
Description:  This is an anthem of intercession for the Monarch. It is likely it was intended to be performed on the ‘King’s Day’ (as indicated next to Royal anthems in manuscripts at Durham heralding from the 1620s, e.g. GB-DRc MS C4). This feast traditionally coincided with Epiphany (see e.g. Royal Epiphany anthems in GB-Ckc MSS 9-17), but later moved to the separate celebration of the Accession of the Monarch. It may also be performed on any occasion where prayers for the Royal Family are suitable, including services of Evensong and Matins where the State Prayers are used. It was a particularly popular composition by Byrd, and was performed regularly long after its composition. The earliest sources include the text ‘Elizabeth, our Queen’, but early manuscript sources survive in versions texted to later Monarchs, including James I, James II, Charles I, Charles II, and William of Orange. The majority of sources appear to explicitly mention the Monarch by name (see e.g. GB-Cp MSS 34,36,38,39,44,46,47; GB-CU MS Ely 4, GB-CU MS Ely 28; GB-DRc MSS A1,C2*,C6,C7,C11,C12,C15,C16,C17; GB-Lcm MSS 1045-1049; GB-Cqcl MS Old Library G.4.17; to name a few).

External websites:

• )
• 1968 performance on YouTube (Guildford Cathedral Choir) - Barry Rose

Original text and translations

English text O Lord, make thy servant [Elizabeth our Queen]* to rejoice in thy strength: give her her heart's desire, and deny not the request of her lips; but prevent her with thine everlasting blessing, and give her a long life, even for ever and ever. Amen. *Versions of this anthem exist in early manuscripts for a number of different Monarchs. This dedication is worded slightly differently for each one.

German translation O Herr, lass deine Dienerin Elisabeth, unsere Königin, sich deiner Stärke erfreuen. Gib ihr, was ihr Herz begehrt, und versage ihr nicht den Wunsch auf ihren Lippen, sondern komme ihr zuvor mit deinem ewigwährenden Segen, und gib ihr ein langes Leben, sogar ein ewiges. Amen.