William Byrd

Aliases: If his surviving signatures are a representative sample, the composer's preferred spelling of his own name was "Byrde", although on his own publications it also appears as Bird and Byrd. His contemporaries knew him indiscriminately as Byrd(e), Bird(e) and even Burd(e).

Life

Born: c.1540

Died: 4 July 1623

Biography:
William Byrd was one of the most celebrated English composers in the Renaissance. His entire life was marked by contradictions, and as a true Renaissance man he cannot be easily categorised. He lived until well into the seventeenth century without writing music in the new Baroque fashion, but his superbly constructed keyboard works marked the beginning of the Baroque organ and harpsichord style. Byrd's life is interesting because of his Roman Catholic sympathies combined with his work in the court of the Anglican Queen Elizabeth I. He composed much music, if intermittently, for the Roman Catholic liturgy, particularly in his later years; the two volumes of Gradualia form a prime example. Possibly as a result of this he did not receive widespread recognition in his lifetime, but was very well respected among the Roman Catholic gentry. In the anti-Catholic frenzy following the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, the first volume of the Gradualia, printed by Thomas East in 1605, was banned in England under penalty of imprisonment as indeed was all of his Catholic music; however his Anglican music— such as the Short Service, and the Responses— has been sung in English cathedrals uninterrupted for the past four centuries.

View the Wikipedia article on William Byrd.

List of choral works

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Sacred music in Latin

Ab ortu solis - Venite comedite   multiple editions available Adoramus te  (   ) Adorna thalamum tuum  (   ) Afflicti pro peccatis - Ut eruas nos  (   ) Alleluia - Ascendit Deus  (   ) Alleluia. Ave Maria - Virga Jesse floruit   2 editions available Alleluia. Cognoverunt discipuli   2 editions available Alleluia - Emitte Spiritum tuum  (   ) Alleluia. Vespere autem Sabbathi  (   ) Alma Redemptoris Mater  (   ) Angelus Domini descendit  (   ) Apparebit in finem  (   ) Ascendit Deus in jubilatione  (   ) Aspice Domine quia facta est  (   ) Aspice Domine de sede - Respice Domine  (   ) Assumpta est Maria  (   ) Attollite portas  (   ) Ave Maria   2 editions available Ave maris stella  (  ) Ave Regina coelorum  (   ) Ave verum corpus   5 editions available Beata es, Virgo Maria  (   ) Beata Viscera   2 editions available Beati mundo corde  (   ) Benedicta et venerabilis - 2 editions available Cantate Domino  (   ) Christus resurgens  (   ) Cibavit eos   2 editions available Circumdederunt me  (   ) Confirma hoc Deus   2 editions available Constitues eos Principes (Gradual)  (   ) Constitues eos Principes (Offertory)  (   ) Cunctis diebus  (   ) Da mihi auxilium  (   ) Defecit in dolore - Sed tu Domine  (   ) Deo gratias   3 editions available Descendit de coelis - Et exivit per auream portam  (   ) Deus venerunt gentes - Posuerunt morticinia - Effuderunt sanguinem - Facti sumus opprobrium  (   ) Dies sanctificatus   2 editions available Diffusa est gratia - Propter veritatem - Vultum tuum   2 editions available Diliges Dominum   2 editions available Domine exaudi orationem - Et non intres in judicium  (   ) Domine non sum dignus  (   ) Domine praestolamur - Veni Domine noli tardare  (   ) Domine salva nos  (   ) Domine secundum actum meum  (   ) Domine secundum multitudinem  (   ) Domine tu jurasti  (   ) Ecce advenit dominator Dominus  (   ) Ecce quam bonum  (   ) Ecce virgo concipiet  (   ) Ego sum panis vivus  (   ) Emendemus in melius   2 editions available Exsurge Domine  (   ) Fac cum servo tuo   2 editions available Factus est repente  (   ) Felix es, sacra Virgo Maria  (   ) Felix namque es  (   ) Gaude Maria  (   ) Gaudeamus omnes in Domino (Assumption)  (   ) Gaudeamus omnes in Domino (All Saints)  (   ) Haec dicit Dominus - Haec dicit Dominus  (   ) Haec dies a 3   2 editions available Haec dies a 6   3 editions available Haec dies - Alleluia Pascha nostrum  (   ) Hodie beata Virgo  (   ) Hodie Christus natus est  (   ) Hodie Simon Petrus  (   ) In manus tuas  (   ) In resurrectione tua  (   ) Infelix ego - Quid igitur faciam? - Ad te igitur  (   ) Jesu nostra redemptio  (   ) Justorum animae   2 editions available Laetentur coeli - Orietur in diebus -    2 editions available Laudate Dominum omnes gentes  (   ) Laudate pueri Dominum  (   ) Laudibus in sanctis - Magnificum Domini - Hunc arguta   3 editions available Levemus corda  (   ) Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna  (   ) Libera me, Domine, et pone me  (   ) Lumen ad revelationem gentium

Mass for Three Voices   multiple editions available Mass for Four Voices   multiple editions available Mass for Five Voices   multiple editions available Memento Domine  (   ) Memento homo  (   ) Memento salutis auctor  (   ) Miserere mei, Deus   2 editions available Miserere mihi Domine   2 editions available Ne irascaris Domine - Civitas sancti tui -    4 editions available Nobis datus   2 editions available Non nobis Domine (Anonymous)   6 editions available; spurious, not by Byrd Non vos relinquam orphanos  (   ) Nunc dimittis (Gradualia)   2 full editions + 1 part edition Nunc scio vere  (   ) O admirabile commertium  (   ) O Domine adjuva me  (   ) O gloriosa Domina  (   ) O lux beata Trinitas  (   ) O magnum mysterium - Beata Virgo   multiple editions available O quam gloriosum est regnum - Benedictio et claritas  (   ) O quam suavis  (   ) O Rex gloriae  (   ) O sacrum convivium  (   ) O salutaris hostia (Gradualia)  (   ) O salutaris hostia (Unpublished)   2 editions available Oculi omnium  (   ) Optimam partem elegit  (   ) Pange lingua gloriosi   2 editions available Pascha nostrum  (   ) Peccantem me quotidie  (   ) Plorans plorabit  (   ) Post dies octo - Mane nobiscum  (   ) Post partum Virgo  (   ) Propter veritatem - Alleluia - Assumpta est Maria  (   ) Psallite Domino  (   ) Puer natus est nobis   6 editions available Quem terra, pontus, aethera  (   ) Quis est homo - Diverte a malo  (   ) Quodcunque ligaveris  (   ) Quotiescunque manducabitis  (   ) Recordare Domine - Quiescat Domine  (   ) Reges Tharsis  (   ) Regina coeli laetare  (   ) Responsum accepit Simeon  (   ) Resurrexi  (   ) Rorate caeli desuper  (   ) Sacerdotes Domini   4 editions available Salve Regina - Et Jesum benedictum (1591)  (   ) Salve Regina (1605)  (   ) Salve sancta parens  (   ) Salve sola Dei genitrix  (   ) Senex puerum portabat (a 4)   2 editions available Senex puerum portabat (a 5)   2 editions available Siderum rector   2 editions available Solve jubente Deo  (   ) Speciosus forma  (   ) Spiritus Domini  (   ) Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem  (   ) Suscepimus Deus - Justitia - Magnus Dominus   2 editions available Suscepimus Deus - Sicut audivimus - 1 complete & 1 part edition available Terra tremuit   2 editions available Timete Dominum  (   ) Tollite portas  (   ) Tribue Domine - Te deprecor - Gloria Patri  (   ) Tribulatio proxima est - Contumelias et terrores  (   ) Tribulationes civitatum - Timor et hebetudo - Nos enim pro peccatis  (   ) Tristitia et anxietas - Sed tu Domine  (   ) Tu es pastor ovium  (   ) Tu es Petrus  (   ) Tui sunt coeli  (   ) Unam petii a Domino  (   ) Veni Sancte Spiritus  (   ) Venite exultemus Domino   2 editions available Victimae paschali laudes  (   ) Vide Domine afflictionem - Sed veni Domine (version for low voices)  (   ) (version for high voices)[withdrawn pending revision] Viderunt omnes (Communion)  (   ) Viderunt omnes (Gradual)  (   ) Vidimus stellam  (   ) Vigilate  (   ) Virgo Dei genitrix   2 editions available Viri Galilaei  (   ) Visita Quaesumus   2 editions available Vultum tuum  (   )

Sacred music in English

Arise Lord into thy rest  (   ) Attend mine humble prayer  (   ) Be unto me  (   ) Behold how good a thing - And as the pleasant morning dew  (   ) Blessed is he that fears the Lord  (   ) Bow thine ear, O Lord  (   Sibelius 2 ) Christ rising again - Christ is risen again   2 editions available Come help O God  (   ) Come let us rejoice unto our Lord  (   ) An earthly tree a heavenly fruit - Cast off all doubtful care  (   ) Even from the depth  (   ) From Depth of Sin  (   ) From Virgin's Womb - Rejoice rejoice  (   ) Great Service, The (no sheet music yet) Venite Te Deum Benedictus Kyrie  (  ) Creed Magnificat Nunc dimittis Have mercy upon me  (   ) Help, Lord, for Wasted are Those Men  (   ) How shall a young man  (   ) How vain the toils  (   ) I have been young  (   ) I have Longed for Thy Saving Health  (   ) I have been young  (   ) I laid me down  (   ) Look down O Lord   2 editions available

Lord hear my prayer instantly  (   ) Lord in thy rage  (   ) Lord in thy wrath correct me not  (   ) Lord in thy wrath reprove me not  (   ) Lord, Make Me to Know Thy Ways  (   Sibelius 2 ) Lullaby my sweet little baby   3 editions available Make ye joy to God  (   ) Mine eyes with fervency  (   ) My soul oppressed with care  (   ) O God give ear  (   ) O God that guides the cheerful sun  (   ) O God which art most merciful  (   ) O Lord, make Thy servant Elizabeth   4 editions available O Lord my God  (   ) O Lord, how long wilt thou forget  (   ) O Lord, who in thy sacred tent  (   ) Praise our Lord all ye Gentiles   2 editions available Prevent Us, O Lord   2 editions available Prostrate O Lord I Lie  (   ) Right Blest are They  (   ) Short Evening Service  (   Encore ) Sing Joyfully   2 editions available Sing we merrily unto God  (   ) Sing ye to our Lord  (   ) Teach me, O Lord   (    ) This day Christ was born   2 editions available Turn our captivity  (   ) Unto the hills mine eyes I lift  (   ) When Israel came out of Egypt  (  )

Secular music

Ah silly Soul  (   ) All as a sea  (   ) Although the heathen poets  (   ) Ambitious Love  (   ) And think ye Nymphs to scorn at love - Love is a fit of pleasure  (   ) As I beheld I saw a herdman wild  (   ) Awake mine eyes  (   ) Care for thy soul  (   ) Come jolly Swains  (   ) Come to me grief for ever   2 editions available Come woeful Orpheus  (   ) Compel the Hawk to sit  (   ) Constant Penelope   2 editions available Crowned with flowers  (   ) The Eagle's force   2 editions available The fair young virgin - But not so soon  (   ) Farewell false Love  (   ) A feigned friend  (   ) From Citheron the warlike boy is fled - There careless thoughts are freed - If Love be just  (   ) The greedy Hawk  (   ) I joy not in no earthly bliss  (   ) I thought that Love had been a boy  (   ) If in thine heart  (   ) If that a sinner's sighs  (   ) If women could be fair  (   ) In Crystal Towers  (   ) In fields abroad  (   ) In Winter cold - Whereat an ant  (   ) Is Love a boy? - Boy pity me   2 editions available Let not the sluggish sleep  (   ) The match that's made  (   ) My mind to me a kingdom is  (   ) The Nightingale  (   )

O that most rare breast  (   ) O Dear Life  (   ) O Sweet Deceit  (   Sibelius 4 ) O you that hear this voice  (   ) Of flattering speech   2 editions available Of gold all burnished - Her breath is more sweet  (   ) Penelope that longed for the sight  (   ) Retire my soul  (   ) See those sweet eyes - Love would discharge  (   ) Sellenger's Round  (   LilyPond ) Susanna fair (1588)  (   ) Susanna fair (1589)  (   ) This sweet and merry month of May (a 4)  (   ) This Sweet and Merry Month of May (a 6)   2 editions available Though Amaryllis dance in green   3 editions available Upon a Summer's day - Then for a boat  (   ) La Virginella  (   ) Wedded to will is witless  (   ) Weeping full sore  (   ) What is life, or worldly pleasure?  (   ) What pleasure have great princes  (   ) When first by force  (   ) When I was otherwise  (   ) When younglings first - But when by proof  (   ) Where fancy fond  (   ) While that the Sun  (   ) Who likes to love  (   ) Who looks may leap  (   ) Who made thee, Hob, forsake the Plough   2 editions available Why do I use my paper, ink and pen?  (   ) Wounded I am - Yet of us twain   2 editions available Ye sacred muses   2 editions available

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Publications (vocal music only)

• Cantiones, quae ab argumento sacrae vocantur (1575)
• Psalmes, sonets & songs of sadnes and pietie (1588)
• Cantiones Sacrae I (1589)
• Songs of sundrie natures (1589)
• Cantiones Sacrae II (1591)
• Masses for 3, 4 & 5 voices (1592-95)
• Gradualia I (1605)
• Gradualia II (1607)
• Psalmes, Songs, and Sonnets... (1611)

Contributions to:

• Musica Transalpina (1588)
• The first sett, of Italian madrigalls Englished (1590)
• The teares or lamentacions of a sorrowfull soule (1614)

External links

There is no single official Byrd website, but a variety of useful resources can be found scattered widely across the Web. Many of these sites still repeat the (almost certainly) incorrect birthdate of 1543.

• Classical.net article - Brief biography and long out-of-date discography.
• Stainer & Bell's Byrd Home Page - Complete list of works, plus links to the Byrd Edition.
• John Sankey's keyboard page - Includes midi files of the complete keyboard works.
• Midiworld - Basically a duplicate of John Sankey's site, plus some midi files of non-keyboard works.
• Byrd on HOASM - Includes useful links and some facsimiles of printed editions.
• Goldberg Web - Includes an essay by Byrd scholar David Skinner and a partial discography.
• William Byrd on Chainki - An editable collection of website links on Byrd.