William Byrd, one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance, lived under constant threat of religious persecution as a devout and practicing Catholic in Anglican England.
Composition History
Philippe de Monte, an aging Kapellmeister at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor, sent Byrd a setting of Psalm 137, expressing solidarity with England's Catholic community.
Composition History
Byrd responded to de Monte's Psalm 137 setting with his own motet, Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?, answering the question 'How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?'.
Compositional Technique
Dobrinka Tabakova, a Bulgarian-born composer, was commissioned to create 'partner settings' for two texts Byrd had used, employing a distinctly homophonic texture to contrast Byrd's polyphony.
Historical Context
Many of Byrd's Latin motets, including those on this album, were written in the 1580s for the recusant cause, lamenting Catholic martyrs and likening English Catholics' plight to the Israelite exile.
Compositional Technique
Dobrinka Tabakova's settings also incorporate elements of Byzantine chant, adding a third Christian vocal tradition to the Catholic and Anglican faiths familiar to Byrd.
Performer Biography
Harry Christophers, founder of The Sixteen, was appointed a CBE in the Queen's 2012 Birthday Honours for his services to music.
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