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Byrd: Complete Harpsichord and Organ Music

Byrd: Complete Harpsichord and Organ Music
Composer William Byrd
Artist Pieter-Jan Belder harpsichord, virginal & organ
Format 9 CD
Cat. number 97074
EAN code 5028421970745
Release November 2023

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About this release

Byrd's vocal works would have assured him a place in history as the greatest English composer of his generation. Yet he was also the outstanding composer of his time in the realm of instrumental music - indeed, probably the first musician to achieve supreme stature simultaneously in music for voices, for instrumental consort and for solo keyboard instrument.

This richly imaginative and polished music gives no hint of its pioneer nature; considering the keyboard tradition, or rather the apparent lack of tradition before Byrd, the originality of his achievement is awesome. His genius is to transfer with such apparent ease his ideas from the brain to the page, and to the keyboard, without spoiling their freshness in the process. ‘The Naturall inclination and love to the Art of Musicke,’ he wrote, ‘wherein I have spent the better part of mine age, have been so powerfull in me, that even in my old yeares which are desirous of rest, I cannot containe my selfe from taking some paines therein.’

His words indicate not only a continually refreshed wellspring of imagination but also a perfectionist temperament that continually drove him to refine his technique. In the hands of Pieter-Jan Belder, whose experience in the field of 17th-century keyboard music is almost unrivalled, these songs and dances and themes and variations seem to develop and unfold as naturally as a tree buds and spreads.
Only one recording of Byrd’s complete music for keyboards has been made before now, and it is now unavailable, leaving this new recording by Pieter-Jan Belder in magnificent solitude. The collection begins with two discs of pieces for organ, played on a trio of Dutch instruments chosen for their varied colours and sizes. CD3 and 4 contains the pieces to be found in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, of which Belder made the first ever complete recording for Brilliant Classics. The last three discs are dedicated to My Lady Nevells Booke, the beautifully preserved collection which most comprehensively preserves his contribution to keyboard literature.

- William Byrd (c.1540-1623) was an English composer of late Renaissance music. Considered among the greatest composers of the Renaissance, he had a profound influence on composers both from his native England and on the continent. On his death, he was reported in the records of the Chapel Royal as ‘father of Music’. He wrote in many of the forms current in England at the time, including various types of sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard (the so-called Virginalist school), and consort music. His keyboard music is of the highest order, it includes dances like the Gaillard and Pavan, Voluntaries and sets of variations on songs.
- Byrd's harpsichord pieces, notable for their intricate counterpoint and rich harmonies, reveal his deep understanding of keyboard technique and his ability to convey intricate emotions through his music. His organ works exhibit a sense of grandeur and solemnity, capturing the ecclesiastical atmosphere of the time. The collection "My Ladye Nevells Booke" stands as a testament to his prowess, offering a varied selection of keyboard pieces.
- Byrd's exploration of polyphony and chromaticism within the confines of his keyboard compositions reflects his remarkable skill and artistic innovation. His complete harpsichord and organ music remain an invaluable treasure trove, offering a glimpse into the soul of Renaissance England's musical genius.
- This set presents a new recording of the complete organ music, the complete works from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book and the complete Ladye Nevells Booke.
- Pieter-Jan Belder is one of the world’s foremost keyboard players, with an astonishing number of CDs to his name: the complete Scarlatti Sonatas, Bach keyboard works, Rameau, Soler, Duphly, Marais, CPE Bach, Corelli, Purcell, Telemann, the complete Fitzwilliam Virginal Book...to be continued. Critics praise his versatility, his innate feeling for style, his impeccable technique: “Superb keyboard artistry and consummate technique” (MusicWeb), “alive, fresh-sounding and thoroughly engaged..” (Fanfare), “The most vital Bach performances of the moment” (Volkskrant).
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Listening

Track list

Disk 1

  1. William Byrd: Jhon, Come Kisse me Now, BK81
  2. William Byrd: Pavan, BK16a
  3. William Byrd: Galliard, BK16b
  4. William Byrd: Pavan Ph[ilippa] Tr[egian], BK60a
  5. William Byrd: Galliard, BK60b
  6. William Byrd: Ladye Monteagle’s Pavan, BK75
  7. William Byrd: A Ground, BK9
  8. William Byrd: The Queenes Alman, BK10
  9. William Byrd: If my complaints, BK103 (Pipers Galliard)
  10. William Byrd: Pavan the Earl of Salisbury, BK15a
  11. William Byrd: Galliards, BK15b/c
  12. William Byrd: Susanna Fair, MBLV50 (123)
  13. William Byrd: An Alman, BK117
  14. William Byrd: Echo Pavan, BK114a
  15. William Byrd: Galliard, BK114b
  16. William Byrd: Pavan, BK76
  17. William Byrd: Galliard, BK77
  18. William Byrd: The Bells, BK38
  19. William Byrd: Robbin Hood, MBV63
  20. William Byrd: Pavan, BK100a
  21. William Byrd: Galliard, BK100b

Disk 2

  1. William Byrd: A Praeludium, BK116
  2. William Byrd: Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, BK58
  3. William Byrd: Three French Coranto’s, BK21
  4. William Byrd: O quam gloriosum est regnum, BK119
  5. William Byrd: ….Secunda pars, BK120
  6. William Byrd: Goe from my Windoe, BK79
  7. William Byrd: A Horne Pype, BK39
  8. William Byrd: Pavana lachrymae, BK54
  9. William Byrd: Galiarda, BK55 (Harding set by Byrd)
  10. William Byrd: Paven, BK73a
  11. William Byrd: Galiard, BK73b
  12. William Byrd: A Grounde, BK43
  13. William Byrd: Pavion, BK23a
  14. William Byrd: Galliard, BK23b
  15. William Byrd: A Fancy, MBLV55 (arr. Tomkins)
  16. William Byrd: If my Complaints or Pypers gal[iard], BK118
  17. William Byrd: Pavan, BK33a
  18. William Byrd: Galliard, BK33b
  19. William Byrd: Care for thy Soule, MBLV52
  20. William Byrd: Galliardo Mris. Marye Brownlo, BK34
  21. William Byrd: Paven, BK72a
  22. William Byrd: Galliard, BK72b
  23. William Byrd: Parludam, BK115
  24. William Byrd: A Grounde, BK86

Disk 3

  1. William Byrd: La volta, BK91
  2. William Byrd: Pavan, BK99a
  3. William Byrd: Galliard, BK99c
  4. William Byrd: Quadran pavan, BK70a
  5. William Byrd: Quadran galliard, BK70b
  6. William Byrd: The Hunt’s up, BK40
  7. William Byrd: Pavana, BK4a
  8. William Byrd: Galliarda, BK4b
  9. William Byrd: Prelude in A Minor, BK12 (First Version)
  10. William Byrd: Fantasia in A Minor, BK13 (First Version)
  11. William Byrd: Pavana, BK52a
  12. William Byrd: Galliarda, BK52b
  13. William Byrd: Fantasia in G Major, BK62
  14. William Byrd: Wolsey’s/Wilson’s Wilde, BK37
  15. William Byrd: Ut mi re, BK65 (First Version)
  16. William Byrd: O mistris myne, BK83
  17. William Byrd: The Ghost, BK78

Disk 4

  1. William Byrd: Sir John Gray’s Galliard, BK104
  2. William Byrd: Gipseis Round, BK80
  3. William Byrd: Monsieurs Alman, BK44
  4. William Byrd: Malt’s Come Down, BK69
  5. William Byrd: A Medley, BK62
  6. William Byrd: Pavana Delight, BK5a
  7. William Byrd: Galliarda [Delight], BK5b
  8. William Byrd: Miserere 3 Parts, BK48 (First Version)
  9. William Byrd: Miserere 4 Parts, BK49 (First Version)
  10. William Byrd: Callino casturame, BK35
  11. William Byrd: Pavan Bray, BK59a
  12. William Byrd: Galliarda [Bray], BK59b
  13. William Byrd: A Gigg, BK22
  14. William Byrd: Prelude, BK24
  15. William Byrd: Pavan, BK101
  16. William Byrd: Corranto, BK45
  17. William Byrd: Fortune, BK6
  18. William Byrd: Alman, BK11
  19. William Byrd: Galliard, BK53
  20. William Byrd: Monsieurs Alman, BK87
  21. William Byrd: Alman, BK89
  22. William Byrd: La volta (Morley set by Byrd), BK90
  23. William Byrd: In Nomine, BK51(Parsons, set by Byrd)

Disk 5

  1. William Byrd: Prelude in G Minor, BK1
  2. William Byrd: Fantasia in G Major, BK63
  3. William Byrd: Christe, qui lux [es et dies], BK121
  4. William Byrd: Fantasia, MBLV55 (Byrd arr. Thomas Tomkins)
  5. William Byrd: In nominee, BK51 (Parsons set by Byrd)
  6. William Byrd: Ut re mi, BK65
  7. William Byrd: Gloria tibi trinitas, BK50
  8. William Byrd: A Ground, BK9
  9. William Byrd: Prelude & Fantasia in A Minor, BK12&13
  10. William Byrd: The Queens Alman, BK10
  11. William Byrd: Voluntary for my Lady Nevell, BK61
  12. William Byrd: Pavan Lachrymae, BK54 (Dowland arr. Byrd)
  13. William Byrd: Fantasia in G Major, BK62

Disk 6

  1. William Byrd: Fantasia A Lesson in Voluntaire in C Major, BK26
  2. William Byrd: Miserere, BK66
  3. William Byrd: Miserere, BK67
  4. William Byrd: Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, BK58
  5. William Byrd: Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, BK64
  6. William Byrd: A Verse of Two Parts, BK28
  7. William Byrd: A Fancie in D Minor, BK46
  8. William Byrd: Salvator Mundi, BK68
  9. William Byrd: Salvator Mundi, BK69
  10. William Byrd: A Voluntarie in C Major, BK27
  11. William Byrd: Clarifica me, BK47
  12. William Byrd: Clarifica me, BK48
  13. William Byrd: Clarifica me, BK49
  14. William Byrd: Prelude and Fantasia in C Major, BK24&25

Disk 7

  1. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: I. My Ladye Nevels Grownde, MB57
  2. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: II. Qui passe for my Ladye Nevell, MB19
  3. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: III. The Marche Before the Battell, MB93
  4. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: IV. The Battell, MB94 - The Souldiers Sommons - The Marche of the Foote Men - The Marche of the Horsmen - The Trumpetts - The Irishe Marche - The Bagpipe and the Drone - The Flute and the Droome - The Marche to the Fight - The Retreat
  5. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: V. The Galliarde for the Victorie, MB95
  6. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: VI. The Barelye Breake, MB92
  7. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: VII. A Galliards Gygge, MB18
  8. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: VIII. The Huntes Upp, MB41
  9. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: IX. Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La, MB64
  10. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: X. The Firste Pavian, MB29
  11. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XI. The Galliarde to the Same
  12. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XII. The II Pavian, MB71
  13. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XIII. The Galliarde to the Same
  14. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XIV. The III Pavian, MB14
  15. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XV. The Galliarde to the Same

Disk 8

  1. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XVI. The IIII Pavian, MB30
  2. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XVII. The Galliarde
  3. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XVIII.The V Pavian, MB31
  4. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XIX. The Galliarde
  5. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XX. Pavana the VI. Kinbrugh Goodd, MB32
  6. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXI. The Galliard
  7. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXII. The Seventh Pavian, MB74
  8. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXIII. The Eighte Pavian, MB17
  9. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXIV. The Passinge Mesures Pavan, MB2
  10. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXV. The Galliarde
  11. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXVI. A Voluntarie for my Ladye Nevell, MB61
  12. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXVII. Will Yow Qalke the Woodes Soe Wylde, MB85
  13. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXVIII. The Maidens Song, MB82
  14. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXIX. A Lesson of Voluntarie, MB26
  15. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXX. The Seconde Grownde, MB42

Disk 9

  1. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXI. Have with Yow to Walsingame, MB8
  2. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXII. All in a Garden Grine, MB56
  3. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXIII. Lord Willobies Welcome Home, MB7
  4. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXIV. The Carmans Whistle, MB36
  5. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXV. Hughe Ashstons Ground, MB20
  6. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXVI. A Fancie, MB25
  7. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXVII. Sellingers Rownde, MB84
  8. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXVIII. Munsers Almaine, MB88
  9. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXIX. The Tenthe Pavian, Mr W Peter, MB3
  10. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XL. The Galliard
  11. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XLI. A Fancie, MB46
  12. William Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XLII. A Voluntarie, MB27
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