A Celebration of William Byrd
Celebrating the life and works of one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance era on this 400th anniversary of his death
Notes on Tonight’s Program – by Douglas Cowling
-reproduced with kind permission of his family-
The year is 1605. A horseman rides towards London, his saddlebags filled with treasonable documents. Unknown to him, the road is being watched by royal agents. The courier is stopped and searched. His arrest follows and, awaiting him is the grisly fate of being hanged, drawn, and quartered. The contents of his saddlebags? Copies of this evening’s music.
1605 was a bloody year of religious intolerance. The Gunpowder Plot led by Guy Fawkes had attempted to blow up King James I in Parliament, and public fury turned on all Catholics in the realm. Even the Mass was banned. In spite of personal danger, Catholics gathered for secret celebrations, and in noble houses elaborate music was still possible. It was for these clandestine rites that William Byrd wrote some of his greatest works.
Byrd’s involvement with the Catholics was doubly dangerous as he was a distinguished member of the Chapel Royal and was busily engaged in composing for the Anglican liturgy. However, like his wily teacher, Thomas Tallis, Byrd was able to play the politics and remain true to his religious beliefs. He was what Elizabeth I called “a stiff papist but a good subject.”
Byrd probably came as a teenager to the Chapel Royal of Mary I (a.k.a. Bloody Mary) and quickly became a protégé of Thomas Tallis. As in the case of so many creative mentorships, the relationship of Tallis and Byrd soon became a partnership of equals. Together they devised and developed many of the musical forms that became the artistic expression of the new Book of Common Prayer and laid the foundations of the Anglican cathedral repertoire.
Byrd composed two brilliant collections for the secret celebrations. The first includes his great masses for three, four, and five voices. In addition, he produced the Gradualia, a collection of “propers” or variable texts of the Mass which change according to the particular day of the church year. In addition to the propers for obvious feasts such as Christmas and Easter, Byrd also chose days which were significant for Counter-Reformation attacks against the Protestants.
Commemorating the 400th anniversary of Byrd’s death, this evening’s concert explores the two intriguing musical faces, public and private, of William Byrd, drawing on these collections to recreate a Renaissance High Mass as it was celebrated in the private chapels of aristocrats. We hear masterpieces such as the Te Deum and Benedictus in D Major written for Anglican usage and the deeply devotional Mass for Five Voices and the propers for Easter Sunday, written for secret celebrations of the Mass.
We begin with the music of Byrd’s public face, that of the Queen’s good subject. However, closing the first half is the piece that perhaps best expresses Byrd’s inner conflict at what was happening in England at the time, Ne Irascaris Domine. “Zion has become a wasteland, Jerusalem a desolation,” a cry of agony from the Israelites held in the Babylonian captivity. Recusant Catholics saw it for what it was, a cry of personal at the state of their own church. This leads into the second half as we contemplate Byrd’s private, Catholic face.
The beauty of the music is matched only inversely by the horror of the fate awaiting those who sang it. Through his music we catch an echo of that brilliant and troubled age.
William Byrd (1540-1623)
PRAISE OUR LORD, ALL YE GENTILES
Praise our Lord, all ye Gentiles, Praise Him all Ye People, Because His mercy is confirmed upon us and His truth remaineth for ever. Amen
BENEDICTUS
Blessed by the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people; and hath raised up a mighty salvation for us, in the house of his servant David. As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began; that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us. To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, and to remember his holy covenant; to perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, that he would give us; that we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear; in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people for the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us; to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to guide their feet into the way of peace. 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.
O LORD MAKE THY SERVANT ELIZABETH
O Lord make thy servant Elizabeth our Queen to rejoice in thy strength. Give her her heart’s desire and deny not the request of her lips; but prevent her with thine blessing and give her a long life even for ever and ever. Amen.
TE DEUM
We praise thee, O God: we ‘knowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting; to thee all angels cry aloud: the heavens and all the powers therein. To thee cherubin and seraphin continually do cry, holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory. The glorious company of the apostles praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs praise thee. The holy church throughout all the world doth ‘knowledge thee; the Father of an infinite majesty; thine honourable, true, and only Son; the Holy Ghost, also being the comforter. Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants: whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting. O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine heritage. Govern them: and lift them up for ever. Day by day we magnify thee; and we worship thy name: ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. O Lord let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.
EXALT THYSELF O GOD
Exalt thyself, O God, above the heav’ns, And let thy glory be upon the earth. Awake my tongue, awake viol and harp. I will awake right early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people; And I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heav’ns, And thy truth unto the clouds. Exalt thyself, O God, above the heav’ns, And let thy glory be upon the earth. Amen.
NE IRASCARIS DOMINE
Ne irascaris Domine satis, et ne ultra memineris iniquitatis nostrae. Ecce respice populus tuus omnes nos.
Civitas sancti tui facta est deserta. Sion deserta facta est, Jerusalem desolata est.
Be not angry, O Lord, and remember our iniquity no more. Behold, we are all your people.
Your holy city has become a wilderness. Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem has been made desolate.
Interval – 15 mins
INTROIT FOR EASTER SUNDAY – RESURREXI
Resurrexi, et adhuc tecum sum, Alleluia, Alleluia: Posuisti super me, manum tuam, Alleluia, Alleluia: Mirabilis facta est scientia tua, Alleluia, Alleluia: Ps. Domine probasti me, et cognovisti me: tu cognovisti sessionem meam, et resurrexionem meam. Gloria Patri, et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
I am risen and am still with thee, Alleluia: thou has set thy hand upon me, Alleluia: thy knowledge is marvellous, Alleluia, Alleluia. Ps. Lord, thou has searched me and known me, thou knowest when I sit and when I rise. 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.
MASS FOR FIVE VOICES – KYRIE
Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have mercy upon us, Lord have mercy upon us.
MASS FOR FIVE VOICES – GLORIA
Glória in excélsis Deo et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis. Laudámus te, benedícimus te, adorámus te, glorificámus te, grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam, Dómine Deus, Rex caeléstis, Deus Pater omnípotens. Dómine Fili unigénite, Jesu Christe, Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris, qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis; qui tollis peccáta mundi, súscipe deprecatiónem nostram.
Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis. Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus, tu solus Altíssimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spíritu: in glória Dei Patris. Amen.
Glory be to God on high And in earth peace, goodwill towards men, We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee,we give thanks to thee, for thy great glory O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
GRADUAL AND ALLELUIA – HAEC DIES – ALLELUIA – PASCHA NOSTRUM
Haec dies, quam fecit Dominus: exsultemus et laetemur in ea. Ps. Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus: quoniam in saeculum Misericordia eius.
Alleluia. Ps. Pascha nostrum immolates est Christus.
This is the day that the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it. Praise the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
Alleluia. Ps. Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed.
SEQUENCE HYMN – VICTIMAE PASCHALI LAUDES
Victimae paschali laudes immolent Christiani. Agnus redemit oves: Christus innocens Patri reconciliavit peccatores. Mors et vita duello conflixere mirando: dux vitae mortuus, regnat vivus. Dic nobis Maria, quid vidisti in via? Sepulcrum Christi viventis, et gloriam vidi resurgentis Angelicos testes, sudarium, et vestes. Surrexit Christus spes mea: praecedet suos [vos] in Galilaeam. Credendum est magis soli Mariae veraci Quam Judaeorum Turbae fallaci. Scimus Christum surrexisse a mortuis vere: tu nobis, victor Rex, miserere. Amen. Alleluia.
Let Christians offer sacrificial praises to the passover victim. The lamb has redeemed the sheep: The Innocent Christ has reconciled the sinners to the Father. Death and life contended in spectacular battle: the dead leader of life reigns alive. Tell us, Mary, what did you see on the way? “I saw the tomb of the living Christ and the glory of his rising, The angelic witnesses, the shroud, and the clothes.” “Christ my hope is arisen; he will go before his own [you] into Galilee.” More to be believed is truthful Mary by herself than the deceitful crowd of the Jews. We know Christ is truly risen from the dead! On us, you conqueror, King, have mercy! Amen. Alleluia.
MASS FOR FIVE VOICES – CREDO
Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei Unigenitum. Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero. Genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri: per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato; passus et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, judicare vivos et mortuos, cuius regni non erit finis. Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem: qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per prophetas. Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum. Et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvationcame down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
OFFERTORY CHANT – TERRA TREMUIT
Terra tremuit et quievit: Dum resurgeret in judicio Deus. Alleluia.
The earth trembled, and was still: When God arose to judgement. Alleluia.
MASS FOR FIVE VOICES – SANCTUS & BENEDICTUS
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt cæli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest.
MASS FOR FIVE VOICES – AGNUS DEI
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, donna nobis pacem.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us thy peace.
COMMUNION CHANT – PASCHA NOSTRUM
Pascha nostrum immolates est Christus, alleluia: itaque epulemur in azymis sinceritatis et veritatis, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed, Alleluia: therefore, let us keep the feast by sharing the unleavened bread of uprightness and truth, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
MOTET – HAEC DIES
Haec dies quam fecit Dominus: exultemus et laetemur in ea, Alleluia.
This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us rejoice and be glad in it. Alleluia.
The Tallis Choir is:
Sopranos
Margaret Allen, Anne Biringer, Elizabeth Cowling, Kirsten Fielding*, Iona Lister, Jane McKinney, Karen MacLeod, Katharine Pimenoff*, Ana Luisa Santo, Suzanne Shwaluk, Sylvie Tremblay, Rebecca Vogan, Audrey Winch
Altos
Claudia Brown, Christine Davidson, Bev Jahnke, Valeria Kondrashov*, Peter Koniers*, Naomi Perley, Elaine Robertson, Miriam Verhaar
Tenors
Dan Donnelly, Curtis Eisenberg, Charles Im, Nathan Jeffery*, Michael Johnston*, Liam McAlpine
Baritones and Basses
Nathaniel Chang, Jean-Paul Feo, Raphael Redmond Fernandes, Felipe Gasper*, Herbert Lemcke, Rocco Marciano, David Martin, Sean Nix*
*concert soloist
Rehearsal Accompanist
Nathan Jeffery
Artistic Director
Peter Mahon
Thank you for joining us tonight.
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Saturday, October 14, 2023
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