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.
The Great Service: Magnificat
William Byrd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him
throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm
He hath put down the mighty from their seat
and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel
as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
World without end
Amen
The lyrics to William Byrd's song The Great Service: Magnificat are taken from the Biblical passage known as the Magnificat or the Song of Mary. Mary, the mother of Jesus, utters this song to express her joy and gratitude to God for selecting her for such a significant role. The first line "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," indicates how Mary feels elevated by this honor of becoming the mother of Jesus, the savior of the world. The subsequent lines speak about God's mercy and compassion, His power to bring down the proud and elevate the humble, and His eternal promise to the people of Israel through Abraham.
The song is divided into four parts, each containing a Magnificat and a Nunc dimittis, which is the song uttered by the prophet Simeon on the occasion of Jesus' dedication in the temple. The Magnificat in 2-3 minutes (depending on the setting) is typically sung by the choir and soloists, while the Nunc dimittis is recited by the priest or choir. The song is a magnificent display of Byrd's knowledge of polyphony and his ability to express the text's emotions adequately. The song's harmonies and counterpoints reflect Mary's feeling of humility, gratitude, and joy, bringing forth the Biblical passage's significant themes.
Line by Line Meaning
My soul doth magnify the Lord
My inner-most being glorifies and honors the Lord
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
And my spirit is delighted and overjoyed in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
Because He has paid attention to and noticed the humble state of His servant.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For this reason, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me and holy is his Name.
Because the Mighty One has done great things for me and His Name is holy.
And his mercy is on them that fear him
Furthermore, His mercy is upon those who revere Him
throughout all generations.
For all the ages to come.
He hath shewed strength with his arm
He has demonstrated His power through His mighty arm.
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has scattered those who are arrogant and boastful in their own imagination.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones.
and hath exalted the humble and meek.
And He has lifted up the lowly and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things
He has satisfied the hungry with good things.
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
And He has sent the wealthy away empty-handed.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel
He has helped His servant Israel, remembering His mercy.
as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
Just as He promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost
Let us honor and praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
As it was in the beginning, it is now, and it will be forevermore.
World without end
For all eternity.
Amen
May it be so.
Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mary Jane Nunes De Oliveira
Lindo demais!👏👏👏👏👏
VFR foxtrott
😌🎶...
Matthew Walsh
Wonderful singing, but what a horrible score hahaha. So much easier to read without bar lines than to wade through this rubbish.