Centre: Lord Petre, Martin Stuchfield Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Essex, and Revd. Sam Brazier Gibbs Vicar of Stondon Massey following the special service to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd.
A Vote of Thanks (concluding the Service).
"Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for coming today - and thank you to the Stondon Singers for performing some of William Byrd's greatest hits.
"As a Byrd nerd if I was exiled to a desert island with eight Byrd records and could save only one it would be the 'Agnus Dei' from the Four Part Mass. The final words "Dona nobis pacem" - "grant us peace" invoke the pain of persecution which rescusants faced and a plea for peace in an uncertain time. The music is timeless.
"Byrd composed the Four Part Mass in 1592, and two other settings in 1595 - and they were sung illegally in Catholic households such as the Petre family of Ingatestone Hall where they may have been used for the first time.
"After three centuries of Catholic suppression following the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 Byrd's work is better known now than it was a hundred years ago when the memorial which you see to the Tercentenary was erected.
"Byrd was a keen musician, tutor and composer. These were his gifts.
"He was also a man of great faith at a time when his beliefs and traditions were suppressed.
"Byrd though composed not only religious music but for a variety of settings: songs, sonnets, and keyboard work. In the preface of his 1588 'Psalmes and Songs of sadnes and piety' he wrote, "Since singing is so good a thing I wish all men [and women] would learn to sing".
"I hope that you will wish to learn more about this great composer. Please buy a book to support the church's project. I this way you will be killing to Byrds with one stone."
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