Byrd's career as a composer flourished during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who protected him despite the religious disputes of the time.
Compositional Technique
Byrd had a strong preference for the art of variation, which showcased both the performer's virtuosity and the composer's imagination and taste for subtle harmonies.
Cultural Impact
William Byrd is considered the most illustrious representative, if not the founding father, of the 'English virginalist school' of the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
Instruments
The harpsichord used in this recording is a copy by Malcolm Rose of a 1579 instrument by Lodewijk Theewes, conserved at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Composer Biography
William Byrd, the composer, was born and remained a Roman Catholic, despite spending his entire life in the service of the Anglican Church.
Compositional Technique
Byrd conceived music using polyphony organized into rich counterpoint, but also incorporated modern elements like solo songs and madrigals.
Composer Biography
In 1575, Queen Elizabeth I granted William Byrd and Thomas Tallis, his colleague at the Chapel Royal, a monopoly on music printing in England.
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