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Donald Macleod sees Byrd retire to the country and pursue new directions in music and in life.

This week, Donald Macleod explores the life of William Byrd, the greatest British musician of his age. Donald is joined all week by Byrd expert Kerry McCarthy to explore Byrd’s story and reveal a composer of determined ambition and powerful convictions. Those who encountered him, found Byrd could be a difficult adversary as well as a loyal friend. Donald also visits Essex to discover what remains of Byrd’s legacy in the places where he felt most at home, and to see how the composer navigated a hazardous path between his catholic faith and his duty to the crown at a time of great religious intolerance.

Today, Donald returns to Stondon Massey where Byrd lived for nearly 30 years, and searches for clues to his final resting place there. He looks at the legal battles Byrd initiated with some of his neighbours and explores the daring new musical project Byrd set for himself, now he was free of his regular obligations at the Chapel Royal.

Haec dies
Choir of Clare College Cambridge, directed by Timothy Brown

The Battell (extract)
Terence Charlston, virginals
Galiardo ‘Mrs. Mary Brownlow’
Catalina Vicens (virginals)

Responsum accepit Simeon
Nunc dimittis
The William Byrd Choir, directed by Gavin Turner

Come Jolly Swains
Have Mercy on me, O God
Blow up the Trumpet
The Sixteen
Fretwork, directed by Harry Christophers

Galiardo ‘The Earle of Salisbury’
Flora Papadopoulos, double harp

Tristitia et anxietas
Gallicantus