Businessman
Byrd risks his livelihood and his reputation as he ventures into music publishing. With Donald Macleod.
Byrd risks his livelihood and his reputation as he ventures into music publishing. With Donald Macleod.
Religious intolerance cast a long shadow over the life and music of William Byrd. As a Roman Catholic in Elizabethan England, he was persecuted by the state and often forced to tread a dangerous path between his personal convictions and his duty to the Queen.
His musical talent and his strength of character enabled him not just to survive, but thrive. Despite his trials he was, and continues to be, celebrated as the greatest British musician of his age.
The book business was booming in London, with a hundred and seventy-five booksellers thriving in the city. So, Byrd felt certain he would make his fortune when the Queen herself awarded him a monopoly on the printing and sale of music. Things didn’t turn out quite as he planned.
All this week, to accompany Composer of the Week, Radio 3 is also exploring William Byrd’s life through a series of new dramas starring David Suchet. To Preserve the Health of Man is at 10.45 each night.
Susanna fair
Geraldine McGreevy, soprano
Phantasm
Emendemus in melius; Peccantem me quotidie
The Cardinall’s Musick
Andrew Carwood, director
Clarifica me, pater
Davitt, Morone, organ
Domine secundum actum meum
Alamire
David Skinner, director
O that most rare breast
Emma Kirkby, soprano
Fretwork
Galliards Gygge
Elizabeth Farr, Harpsichord
Lullaby
Geraldine McGreevy, soprano
Phantasm
Last on
Music Played
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William Byrd
Susanna fair
Singer: Geraldine McGreevy. Ensemble: Phantasm.- Simax: PSC1191.
- Simax.
- 10.
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William Byrd
Emendemus in melius
Ensemble: Cardinall's Musick. Director: Andrew Carwood.- BYRD, William: Attolite portas.
- ASV.
- 3.
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William Byrd
Peccantem me quotidie
Ensemble: Cardinall's Musick. Director: Andrew Carwood.- ASV: CDGAU197.
- ASV.
- 13.
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William Byrd
Clarifica me, pater
Performer: Davitt Moroney.- HYPERION : CDA-66553.
- HYPERION.
- 16.
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William Byrd
Domine secundum actum meum
Choir: Alamire. Narrator: David Skinner.- OBSIDIAN : CD-706.
- OBSIDIAN.
- 5.
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William Byrd
O that most rare breast
Singer: Emma Kirkby. Ensemble: Fretwork.- Harmonia Mundi: HMU2270573.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 9.
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William Byrd
A Galliarde Gygge
Performer: Elizabeth Farr.- NAXOS: 857013941.
- NAXOS.
- 15.
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William Byrd
Lullaby
Singer: Geraldine McGreevy. Ensemble: Phantasm.- Simax: PSC1191.
- Simax.
- 13.
Broadcasts
- Wed 20 Apr 201612:00BBC Radio 3
- Wed 20 Apr 201618:30BBC Radio 3
- Wed 21 Jul 202112:00BBC Radio 3
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