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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

59 minutes

Last on

Wed 21 Jul 2021 12:00

Music Played

  • William Byrd

    Susanna fair

    Singer: Geraldine McGreevy. Ensemble: Phantasm.
    • Simax: PSC1191.
    • Simax.
    • 10.
  • William Byrd

    Emendemus in melius

    Ensemble: Cardinall's Musick. Director: Andrew Carwood.
    • BYRD, William: Attolite portas.
    • ASV.
    • 3.
  • William Byrd

    Peccantem me quotidie

    Ensemble: Cardinall's Musick. Director: Andrew Carwood.
    • ASV: CDGAU197.
    • ASV.
    • 13.
  • William Byrd

    Clarifica me, pater

    Performer: Davitt Moroney.
    • HYPERION : CDA-66553.
    • HYPERION.
    • 16.
  • William Byrd

    Domine secundum actum meum

    Choir: Alamire. Narrator: David Skinner.
    • OBSIDIAN : CD-706.
    • OBSIDIAN.
    • 5.
  • William Byrd

    O that most rare breast

    Singer: Emma Kirkby. Ensemble: Fretwork.
    • Harmonia Mundi: HMU2270573.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 9.
  • William Byrd

    A Galliarde Gygge

    Performer: Elizabeth Farr.
    • NAXOS: 857013941.
    • NAXOS.
    • 15.
  • William Byrd

    Lullaby

    Singer: Geraldine McGreevy. Ensemble: Phantasm.
    • Simax: PSC1191.
    • Simax.
    • 13.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 20 Apr 2016 12:00
  • Wed 20 Apr 2016 18:30
  • Wed 21 Jul 2021 12:00

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