Welcome to our Festival blog

We are a small congregation commemorating the 400th anniversary of the death of the village's Elizabethan composer, William Byrd (c.1540 - 1623).

We are planning to erect a permanent memorial to Byrd to mark the quatercentenary since his death, and have begun a fundraising appeal. Our events this year have included a talk on The Life and Times of William Byrd (30 June), including book release; a Commemorative Service of BCP Evensong (2 July); and, welcomed The Stondon Singers who gave a sell-out William Byrd Anniversary Concert on the actual day (4 July). Stondon Massey has also featured on BBC Radio 3's 'Composer of the Week' programme (3-7 July).

This website contains everything you need to know about William Byrd's life and music as well as his links with Stondon Massey. /

Monday 7 February 2011

Singers to Explore Queen and William Byrd

The Writtle Singers have announced the theme of their concert to be held at Stondon as part of the William Byrd Festival. On Saturday 14 May, at 7.30pm, Christine Gwynn will be directing the singers and narrator, Martyn Richards, in a performance entitled 'William Byrd: Loyal Heart or Traitor?'

The evening will explore through words and music Byrd's subversive life as a recusant Catholic. It was something which Queen Elizabeth I found hard to stomach but, because he was such a great composer and musician, she turned a blind eye to his behaviour.

The evening will include a complete performance of Byrd's 'Mass for Four Voices', plus settings of Psalm 137 in which Byrd, in composition, replies to de Monte, "How Do We Sing The Lord's Song In A Strange Land".

Tickets are now on sale price £12.50 each.


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