It was something of a 'red letter day' for Stondon Massey Church when earlier (on Wednesday 7 June) we welcomed Donald Macleod, presenter, and Chris Taylor, producer, of BBC Radio 3's 'Composer of the Week'. The week beginning Monday 3 July marks the 400th anniversary of the death of the great Renaissance composer William Byrd.
Andrew Smith was interviewed on aspects of Byrd's life while he lived in early retirement in Stondon Massey. He discussed the Byrd family's recusancy: the refusal to attend Church Services at a time when Anglican worship was compulsory, and his frequent naming before the Archdeaconry Court by the churchwardens, one of whom was Denis Lolly.
Byrd's time at Stondon Place, where he obtained a short lease from the Crown, was considered and the legal cases he had with Mrs Jane Shelley who claimed joint ownership with her disgraced and deceased husband William.
Finally there was a reflection on the content of Byrd's Last Will and Testament where the composer asked to buried next to his wife, Julian, in Stondon Massey churchyard.
Composer of the Week will be broadcast at midday from Monday 3 July to Friday 7 July 2023, with Andrew's edited contributions appearing in the first and last programmes.
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