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This is an extract from Byrd's Mass for 4 voices (Credo).

We find plenty of common 鈥榳ord painting鈥� techniques in Byrd鈥檚 4-part Creed. He gives us rising scales on the words 鈥渞esurrexit鈥� (resurrected) and 鈥渁scendit鈥� (ascended); tripping fast notes at 鈥渧ivificantem鈥� (giver of life). But there are some unorthodox features too. Like many composers, Byrd divides the long text of the credo into three distinct sections. However, Byrd doesn鈥檛 follow the conventional divisions. Particularly unusual, and most telling, is his decision to begin a new section at the words 鈥淓t unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.鈥� (And I believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church). He also highlights this line with pointed musical phrases, repeating the word 鈥淐atholicam鈥�. Byrd was himself a Roman Catholic at a time when Catholic worship was illegal. This music could only ever have been performed in secret during the composer鈥檚 lifetime.

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