WILLIAM BYRD (1540-1623)

William Byrd was an English renaissance composer. He wrote sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard and consort music.
Byrd was born in London and had two brothers and four sisters. His first compositions were related to the religious service as he was pupil of several Chapel Royal singers. His first work was as organist and choirmaster of Lincoln Cathedral for nine years. During this time he composes many items related to the Anglican religion.
On the 14th September, 1568 he married Julian Birley and they had at least seven children.
In 1572 he obtained the post of Gentleman of the Chapel Royal; this widened his scope as a composer and made him well-known at Court.
He also collaborated with other musicians and painters such as Tallies, but some turned out to be a real failure.
From the early 1570 onward Byrd became increasingly involved with Catholicism and as a consequence the themes of his compositions also change.
In about 1594, Byrd’s career entered a new phase. He is semi-retired from the Chapel Royal and he moved with his family to Essex.
Byrd composed about 470 compositions and this gives him the reputation as one of greatest masters of European Renaissance music.
Some of his works are published in collections such as: Cantiones sacrae 1589 and 1591; The English song-books of 1588 and 1589;My Ladye Nevells Booke (1580’s); Masses, Gradualia, Fitzwilliam Virginal Book (1612-1619).
Byrd was highly well-known among English musicians, especially in the earlier stages of his career. Later on, his music was not very influential until our days; much research has been made in order to increase the understanding of Byrd’s life and music.
As a curiosity, it has been argued that a reference to Byrd has been made by Shakespeare in his mysterious allegorical poem “THE PHOENIX AND THE TURTLE” in “the bird of loudest lay”.
To read more
to listen to some of his music