BYRD, WILLIAM

(1543, Lincoln ?, England – 4 July 1623, Stondon Massey, Essex)

Great master of high Renaissancepolyphony, he was appointedOrganistand Master of the Choristers at Lincoln Cathedral from 25 March 1563, Gentleman of theChapel Royalfrom February 1570, joint organist from December 1572 withThomas Tallis, with whom he published his first Latinmotets, theCantionesof 1575.

Although a Roman Catholic, he composed more than 65 Englishanthems; in later years, he composed mostly for the Catholic rites, an act that demanded discretion. His most famous works today, the Latinmassesfor three voices (c. 1592–1593), four voices (c. 1593– 1594), and five voices (c. 1595), he printed in limited editions with-out title pages. They exhibit a consummate mastery of contrapuntal technique and make no use ofcantus firmus, paraphrase, orparodytechnique, but are freely composed, unusual for the time. After 1590, he undertook the immense project of setting an entire liturgical cycle of masspropersfor feast days, theGradualia. Byrd also composed sixfantasiesand fivepreludesand other liturgical pieces for keyboard and a significant amount of secular vocal andinstrumentalmusic. He exercised an enormous influence on English music; among his students wereThomas MorleyandThomas Tomkins, and possiblyThomas Weelkesand John Bull.