Byrd Studies

This book is a collection of twelve essays by British and American writers on William Byrd.

Alan Brown (Edited by), Richard Turbet (Edited by)

9780521401296, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 January 1992

296 pages, 7 b/w illus.
23.8 x 15.8 x 2.4 cm, 0.605 kg

This symposium celebrates the 450th anniversary of the birth of William Byrd, one of the greatest English composers. Twelve scholars contribute essays which together cover all the genres of Byrd's prolific output. Topics discussed in this collection include authentication of the canon, applications of technology to Byrd research, Byrd's relationship to earlier English traditions and his influence on his successors. There are studies concerned with manuscript sources and aspects of performance and the final contribution is a comprehensive listing of Byrd recordings made between 1923 and 1988. The essays in this volume show a variety of approaches to musical analysis and some of the conclusions are controversial, or offer revisions of earlier opinions.

List of plates
Preface
Abbreviations
1. Some thoughts about cantus firmus composition
and a plea for Byrd's Christus resurgens Peter Le Huray
2. The English background to Byrd's motets: textual and stylistic models for Infelix ego Owen Rees
3. Byrd's manuscript motets: a new perspective John Morehen
4. Birdus tantum natus decorare magistrum David Wulstan
5. 'Throughout all generations': intimations of influence in the Short Service styles of Tallis, Byrd and Morley Craig Monson
6. 'Write all these down': notes on a Byrd song Joseph Kerman
7. Byrd and Jacobean consort music: a look at Richard Mico John Bennett
8. Byrd and Tomkins: the instrumental music John Irving
9. Baldwin and the Nevell hand Hilary Gaskin
10. My Ladye Nevells Booke and the art of gracing Desmond Hunter
11. Some anonymous keyboard pieces considered in relation to Byrd Oliver Neighbour
12. A Byrd discography Michael Greenhalgh
Index of Byrd's works cited
Index of names.

Subject Areas: Individual composers & musicians, specific bands & groups [AVH]