Mass for Four Voices: Kyrie
William Byrd (1540 or late 1539 –1623) was one of the most celebrated Engli… Read Full Bio ↴William Byrd (1540 or late 1539 –1623) was one of the most celebrated English composers in the Renaissance.
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 are 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 (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.
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 are 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 (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.
Mass for Four Voices: Kyrie
William Byrd Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by William Byrd:
attollite portas Attollite portas, principes, vestras, et elevamini, portae a…
Ave Verum Corpus Ave verum Corpus natum de maria virgine. Vere passum immolat…
Ne irascaris Domine Ne irascaris Domine satis, et ne ultra memineris iniquitatis…
Ne irascaris, Domine Ne irascaris Domine satis, et ne ultra memineris iniquitatis…
The Great Service: Nunc Dimittis Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to…
Tribue Domine Tribue Domine, ut donec in hoc fragili corpore positus sum, …
Tribue, Domine Tribue Domine, ut donec in hoc fragili corpore positus sum, …
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@tkgtheatre
I love this so much. We are singing it in an extracurricular music group. I really like the chord at the end of the 1st Kyrie Part. Beautiful. Well Done Christ Church Choir!
@advocate1563
my better half is a lay clerk in London. We sing Byrd masses at home as part of our relationship. Making this music together is simply joyous even though he gets frustrated with my dodgy timing.
@choirboyfromhell1
My favorite all time mass setting, and Christ Oxford does it great justice.
@lucianacantares1
This is very helpful for me to study for my lessons of conduction! Thank you very much! !
@cheeselover267
Thank you for uploading these with the scores! Very helpful.
@TheLivingHeiromartyr
Bloody hell, I didn't know he wrote it during protestant england, that's some serious dedication! Bravo, Byrd!
@benjamin-hughmackay2094
Published surreptitiously in 'Gradualia'
@samahlbom1878
Tjo
@JohnSmith-ei2pm
The queen, who was the real ruler at the time, was highly intelligent and learned. She was well aware of Byrd's talent and this is shown by her actions after the Spanish threat was removed in 1588. She also was sympathetic to Roman Catholicism. It was very different from present day England where the true rulers are unknown and are driven only by greed.
The queen was vastly superior, loved her people and had a deep and profound faith. Byrd was very lucky to live in such times.
@treblechoir99
Magnificent Byrd, by Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Thank you for this one.