William Byrd

Life

Born: c.1540

Died: 4 July 1623

William Byrd (1539/40 – July 4, 1623) 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.

Biography

View the Wikipedia article on William Byrd.

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View description of Cantiones, quae ab argumento sacrae vocantur (William Byrd/Thomas Tallis) of 1575.
View description of Psalmes, sonets & songs of sadnes and pietie of 1588.
View description of Cantiones Sacrae I of 1589.

List of choral works

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Ab ortu solis - Venite comedite - 2 editions available Adoramus te, Christe   (   Sibelius 2 ) Adorna thalamum tuum - Subsistit Virgo   (   Sibelius 2 ) Afflicti pro peccatis - Ut eruas nos   (   Sibelius 2 ) All as a sea   (   Sibelius 2 ) Alleluia. Ascendit Deus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Alleluia. Ave Maria - Virga Jesse floruit - 2 editions available Alleluia. Emitte Spiritum tuum   (   Sibelius 2 ) Alleluia. Senex puerum   (   Sibelius 2 ) Alleluia. Cognoverunt discipuli   (   Sibelius 2 ) Alleluia. Vespere autem sabbati - Quae lucescit   (   Sibelius 2 ) Although the heathen poets   (   Sibelius 2 ) An earthly tree an heavenly fruit - Cast off all doubtful care   (   Sibelius 2 ) And think ye Nymphs to scorn at love - Love is a fit of pleasure   (   Sibelius 2 ) Angelus Domini descendit   (   Sibelius 2 ) Apparebit in finem   (   Sibelius 2 ) Arise Lord into thy rest   (   Sibelius 2 ) Ascendit Deus in jubilatione   (   Sibelius 2 ) Aspice Domine quia facta est   (   Sibelius 2 ) Aspice Domine de sede - Respice Domine   (   Sibelius 2 ) Assumpta est Maria   (   Sibelius 2 ) Attend mine humble prayer   (   Sibelius 2 ) Attollite portas   (   Sibelius 2 ) Ave Maria   ( SmartMusicViewer ) Ave maris stella   (   Sibelius 2 ) Ave verum corpus - 4 editions available Awake mine eyes   (   Sibelius 2 ) Beata es, Virgo Maria   (   Sibelius 2 ) Beata Viscera - 2 editions available Beati mundo corde   (   Sibelius 2 ) Behold how good a thing - And as the pleasant morning dew   (   Sibelius 2 ) Benedicta et venerabilis - 2 Editions available Benedictus   (  ) Blessed is he that fears the Lord   (   Sibelius 2 ) Bow thine ear, O Lord   (   Sibelius 2 ) Cantate Domino   (   Sibelius 2 ) Care for thy soul   (   Sibelius 2 ) Christ rising again - Christ is risen again - 2 editions available Christus resurgens - Dicant nunc Judaei   (   Sibelius 2 ) Cibavit eos - 2 editions available Circumdederunt me   (   Sibelius 2 ) Come jolly swains   (   Sibelius 2 ) Come let us rejoice unto our Lord   (   Sibelius 2 ) Come to me grief for ever - 2 editions available Come woeful Orpheus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Confirma hoc Deus - 2 editions available Constant Penelope   (   Sibelius 2 ) Constitues eos Principes - Pro patribus tuis   (   Sibelius 2 ) Crowned with flowers   (   Sibelius 2 ) Cunctis diebus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Da mihi auxilium   (   Sibelius 2 ) Defecit in dolore - Sed tu Domine   (   Sibelius 2 ) Deo gratias - 3 editions available Descendit de coelis - Et exivit per auream portam   (   Sibelius 2 ) Deus venerunt gentes - Posuerunt morticinia - Effuderunt sanguinem - Facti sumus opprobium   (   Sibelius 2 ) Dies sanctificatus   (   NOTEWORTHY COMPOSER ) Diffusa est gratia - Propter veritatem - Vultum tuum - 2 editions available Diliges Dominum   (   Sibelius 2 ) Domine exaudi orationem - Et non intres in judicium   (   Sibelius 2 ) Domine non sum dignus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Domine praestolamur - Veni Domine noli tardare   (   Sibelius 2 ) Domine secundum actum meum - Ideo deprecor   (   Sibelius 2 ) Domine secundum multitudinem   (   Sibelius 2 ) Domine tu jurasti   (   Sibelius 2 ) Eagle's force, The    - 2 editions available Ecce advenit dominator Dominus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Ecce quam bonum - Quod descendit   (   Sibelius 2 ) Ecce virgo concipiet   (   Sibelius 2 ) Ego sum panis vivus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Emendemus in melius - 2 editions available Even from the depth   (   Sibelius 2 ) Exsurge Domine   (   Sibelius 2 ) Fac cum servo tuo - 2 editions available Factus est repente   (   Sibelius 2 ) Farewell false Love   (   Sibelius 2 ) Feigned Friend, A   (   Sibelius 2 ) Felix es, sacra Virgo Maria   (   Sibelius 2 ) Felix namque es   (   Sibelius 2 ) From Cytheron the warlike boy is fled - There careless thoughts - If Love be just   (   Sibelius 2 ) From Depth of Sin   (   Sibelius 2 ) From Virgin's Womb - Rejoice rejoice   (   Sibelius 2 ) Gaude Maria   (   Sibelius 2 ) Gaudeamus omnes in Domino (Assumption)   (  Sibelius 2 Gaudeamus omnes in Domino (All Saints)   (  Sibelius 2 Great Service, The (no sheet music yet) Venite Te Deum Benedictus Creed Magnificat Nunc dimittis Greedy Hawk, The   (   Sibelius 2 ) Haec dicit Dominus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Haec dies a 3    - 2 editions available Haec dies a 6     - 3 editions available Haec dies - Alleluia Pascha nostrum   (   Sibelius 2 ) Have mercy on me   (   Sibelius 2 ) Help, Lord, for wasted are those Men   (   Sibelius 2 ) Hodie beata Virgo   (   Sibelius 2 ) Hodie Christus natus est   (   Sibelius 2 ) Hodie Simon Petrus   (   Sibelius 2 ) How shall a young man   (   Sibelius 2 ) I have been young   (   Sibelius 2 ) I have Longed for Thy Saving Health   (    ) I joy not in no earthly bliss   (   Sibelius 2 ) I thought that Love had been a boy   (   Sibelius 2 ) I will not leave you comfortless   (   Finale-1998 ) If in thine heart   (   Sibelius 2 ) If that a sinner's sighs   (   Sibelius 2 ) If women could be fair   (   Sibelius 2 ) In fields abroad   (   Sibelius 2 ) In resurrectione tua   (   Sibelius 2 ) In Winter cold - Whereat an ant   (   Sibelius 2 ) Infelix ego   (   Sibelius 2 ) Is Love a boy? - Boy pity me - 2 editions available Jesu nostra redemptio   (   Sibelius 2 ) Justorum animae - 2 editions available La Verginella   (   Sibelius 2 ) Laetentur coeli - 2 editions available Laudate Dominum omnes gentes   (   Sibelius 2 ) Laudate pueri Dominum   (   Sibelius 2 ) Laudibus in sanctis - Magnificum Domini - Hunc arguta   (   Sibelius 2 ) Let not the sluggish sleep   (   Sibelius 2 ) Levemus corda   (   Sibelius 2 ) Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna   (   Sibelius 2 ) Libera me, Domine, et pone me   (   Sibelius 2 ) Look down, o Lord, on me poor man   (   ) Lord hear my prayer - 2 editions available Lord in thy rage   (    Sibelius 2 ) Lord in thy wrath correct me not   (   Sibelius 2 ) Lord in thy wrath reprove me not   (   Sibelius 2 ) Lord, Make Me to Know Thy Ways   (   Sibelius 2 ) Lullaby my sweet little baby   (   Sibelius 2 ) Lumen ad revelationem gentium   (   NOTEWORTHY COMPOSER ) Make ye joy to God   (   Sibelius 2 )

Mass for Three Voices - multiple editions available Mass for Four Voices - multiple editions available Mass for Five Voices Memento homo   (   Sibelius 2 ) Memento Domine   (   Sibelius 2 ) Memento salutis auctor   (   Sibelius 2 ) Mine eyes with fervency   (   Sibelius 2 ) Miserere mei, Deus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Miserere mihi Domine   (   Sibelius 2 ) My Mind to me a Kingdom is   (   Sibelius 2 ) My soul oppressed with care   (   Sibelius 2 ) Ne irascaris Domine - Civitas sancti tui - 4 editions available Nightingale, The   (   Sibelius 2 ) Nobis datus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Non nobis, Domine (Anonymous) - 6 editions available; spurious, not by Byrd Non vos relinquam orphanos   (   Sibelius 2 ) Nunc dimittis (Short Service)   (  ENCORE  ) Nunc dimittis (Gradualia)   - 2 editions available Nunc scio vere   (   Sibelius 2 ) O admirabile commercium   (   Sibelius 2 ) O Dear Life   (   Sibelius 2 ) O Domine adjuva me   (   Sibelius 2 ) O gloriosa Domina   (   Sibelius 2 ) O God give ear   (   Sibelius 2 ) O God that guides the cheerful sun   (   Sibelius 2 ) O God which are most merciful   (   Sibelius 2 ) O Lord my God   (   Sibelius 2 ) O Lord, how long wilt thou forget   (   Sibelius 3 ) O Lord, make Thy servant Elizabeth - 4 editions available O Lord, who in thy sacred tent   (   Sibelius 2 ) O lux beata Trinitas   (   Sibelius 2 ) O magnum mysterium - Beata Virgo   - multiple editions available Prima pars:O magnum mysterium   (  Sibelius 2  ) Secunda pars:Beata Virgo   (  Finale-2001  ) O quam gloriosam est regnum   (   Sibelius 2 ) O quam suavis   (   Sibelius 2 ) O Rex gloriae   (   Sibelius 2 ) O sacrum convivium   (   Sibelius 2 ) O salutaris hostia - 3 editions available O that most rare breast   (   Sibelius 2 ) O you that hear this voice   (   Sibelius 2 ) Oculi omnium   (   Sibelius 2 ) Of flatt'ring speech   (   Sibelius 2 ) Of gold all burnished   (   Sibelius 2 ) Optimam pertem elegit   (   Sibelius 2 ) Pange lingua gloriosi   (   Sibelius 2 ) Pascha nostrum - Communion   (   Sibelius 2 ) Peccantem me quotidie   (   Sibelius 2 ) Penelope that longed for the sight   (   Sibelius 2 ) Plorans plorabit   (   Sibelius 2 ) Post dies octo - Mane nobiscum   (   Sibelius 2 ) Praise our Lord, all ye Gentiles - 2 editions available Prevent Us, O Lord   (  ) Propter veritatem - Alleluia - Assumpta est Maria   (   Sibelius 2 ) Prostrate O Lord I Lie   (   Sibelius 2 ) Psallite Domino   (   Sibelius 2 ) Puer natus est nobis - 5 editions available Quem terra, pontus, aethera   (   Sibelius 2 ) Quiescat Domine   (   Sibelius 2 ) Quis est homo   (   Sibelius 2 ) Quodcunque ligaveris   (   Sibelius 2 ) Quotiescunque manducabitis   (   Sibelius 2 ) Recordare Domine   (   Sibelius 2 ) Reges Tharsis   (   Sibelius 2 ) Regina coeli laetare   (   Sibelius 2 ) Responsum accepit Simeon   (   Sibelius 2 ) Resurrexi   (   Sibelius 2 ) Retire my soul   (   Sibelius 2 ) Right blest are they   (   Sibelius 2 ) Rorate caeli desuper   (   Sibelius 2 ) Sacerdotes Domini    - 4 editions available Salve Regina (1591)   (   Sibelius 2 ) Salve Regina (1605)   (   Sibelius 2 ) Salve sancta parens   (   Sibelius 2 ) Sanctus   (  ) Sed tu, Domine   (   Sibelius 2 ) See those sweet eyes - Love would discharge   (   Sibelius 2 ) Senex puerum portabat - 3 editions available Short Evening Service (Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis)   (   ENCORE ) Sicut Audivimus   (   SIBELIUS ) Siderum rector - 2 editions available Sing Joyfully - 2 editions available Sing we merrily unto God   (   Sibelius 2 ) Sing ye to our Lord   (   Sibelius 2 ) Solve jubente Deo   (   Sibelius 2 ) Speciosus forma - Alleluia - Post partum   (   Sibelius 2 ) Spiritus Domini   (   Sibelius 2 ) Surge, illuminare - Alleluia - Vidimus stellam   (   Sibelius 2 ) Susanna fair (1588)   (   Sibelius 2 ) Susanna fair (1589)   (   Sibelius 2 ) Suscepimus Deus - Justitia - Magnus Dominus  - 2 editions available Suscepimus Deus - Sicut audivimus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Terra tremuit - 2 editions available This day Christ was born - 2 editions available This Sweet and Merry Month of May   (   SIBELIUS ) Though Amaryllis Dance in Green - 2 editions available Timete Dominum   (   Sibelius 2 ) Tollite portas - Ave Maria   (   Sibelius 2 ) Tribue Domine   (   Sibelius 2 ) Tribulatio proxima est   (   Sibelius 2 ) Tribulationes civitatum   (   Sibelius 2 ) Tristitia et anxietas   (   Sibelius 2 ) Tu es pastor ovium   (   Sibelius 2 ) Tu es Petrus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Tui sunt caeli   (   Sibelius 2 ) Turn our captivity   (   Sibelius 2 ) Unam petii a Domino   (   Sibelius 2 ) Unto the hills mine eyes I lift   (   Sibelius 2 ) Upon a Summer's day   (   Sibelius 2 ) Veni Sancte Spiritus   (   Sibelius 2 ) Venite comedite   (   SIBELIUS ) Venite exultemus Domino   (   Sibelius 2 ) Victimae paschali laudes   (   Sibelius 2 ) Vide Domine afflictionem   (   Sibelius 2 ) Viderunt omnes (Communion)   (   Sibelius 2 ) Viderunt omnes - Alleluia - Dies sanctificatus (Gradual & Alleluia)   (   Sibelius 2 ) Vidimus stellam   (   Sibelius 2 ) Vigilate   (   Sibelius 2 ) Virga Jesse floruit   (  ) Virgo Dei Genetrix   (   ) Viri Galilaei   (   Sibelius 2 ) Visita Quaesumus   (   ENCORE ) Vultum tuum   (   Sibelius 2 ) Wedded to will is witless   (   Sibelius 2 ) Weeping full sore   (   Sibelius 2 ) What is life, or worldly pleasure?   (   Sibelius 2 ) What pleasure have great princes   (   Sibelius 2 ) When first by force   (   Sibelius 2 ) When I was otherwise   (   Sibelius 2 ) When younglings first on Cupid fix their sight   (   Sibelius 2 ) Where fancy fond   (   Sibelius 2 ) While that the Sun   (   Sibelius 2 ) Who likes to love   (   Sibelius 2 ) Who looks may leap   (   Sibelius 2 ) Who made thee, Hob, forsake the Plough   (   Sibelius 2 ) Why do I use my paper, ink and pen?   (   Sibelius 2 ) Wounded I am - Yet of us twain  - 2 Editions available Ye sacred muses   (   Finale-2000 )

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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

Classical.net article