Byrd at the BBC: Record Review Podcast

 

This version of 'Record Review', first broadcast on 1 July 2023, is available for over a year: Record Review Podcast - The essential works by English composer William Byrd. - BBC Sounds

Byrd at the BBC Today

 BBC Radio 3 In Concert

Wednesday 12 July. 7.30-10.00pm

BBC Radio 3 - Radio 3 in Concert, The Sixteen at York Minster

The Sixteen Choir under their director Harry Christophers sing Byrd as part of their Choral Pilgrimage.

Byrd at the BBC Today

Sunday Worship

Sunday 9 July. 8.10-8.45am.  BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 - Sunday Worship, Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets

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 Choral Evensong

Wednesday 5 July. 4.00-5.00pm (repeated Sunday 9 July. 3.00-4.00pm)

BBC Radio 3 - Choral Evensong, Lincoln Cathedral

Live from Lincoln Cathedral to mark the 400^th anniversary of the death of William Byrd.

 

Sunday Feature

Sunday 9 July. 6.45-7.30pm

BBC Radio 3 - Sunday Feature, Byrd and Beyond: Challenged by Faith

Harry Christophers, conductor of The Sixteen, examines the powerful relationship between faith and music, both in Byrd’s time and the present day.

'Sunday Worship' on BBC Radio 4 recorded at Stondon Massey Church

William Byrd is regarded as one of England's greatest composers. He lived through turbulent times through the Sixteenth and early-Seventeenth Centuries, witnessing both significant religious and political change. Despite this, he composed some of the finest music of his time for both the Catholic and Anglican Church.

  In the week of the 400th anniversary of his death, The Revd Dr Jonathan Arnold reflects on William Byrd's contribution to Christian music and worship. Jonathan visits the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Stondon Massey in rural Essex - where Byrd is thought to be buried - and also the nearby Ingatestone Hall, the home of the composer's patron, Lord Petre. Jonathan speaks to the current Lord Petre about the connection between Byrd and his patron through their Catholic faith.

  

Harry Christophers, founder and director of The Sixteen, reflects on the sense of longing and faith in Byrd's music, expressed in the composer's particular attention to the texts he set from scripture, and there are contributions from Byrd scholar Professor Kerry McCarthy, music historian Dr Katie Bank, and singer and conductor Dr David Allinson.

  

Byrd remained a Catholic throughout his life, which for many at the time was a dangerous thing to do, but his contribution to music for the Anglican church remains central to music and worship in many churches today.

  

The readings are Isaiah 64 vv.9-10 - read by our Vicar, Revd. Sam Brazier-Gibbs - (the Latin text of which Byrd set in his motet Ne irascaris, Domine), and Colossians 3 vv.12-17, in which St Paul encourages his readers to 'sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God'.

  

Byrd's music featured includes Ne irascaris Domine, Tribue Domine, the Nunc dimittis from the Second Service, and movements from his three Masses.

 

The programme was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Sunday 9 July 2023, 8.10-8.48am. Available on BBC Sounds for 30 days: BBC Radio 4 - Sunday Worship, Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets

Byrd at the BBC Today

 

Composer of the Week

BBC Radio 3

Friday 7 July. 12.00-1.00pm.

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), Stondon Massey

BBC Music Magazine, July 2023, regards this programme as ‘Choice’ listening.

 

Unclassified

Thursday 6 July. 11.30pm-12.30am

BBC Radio 3 - Unclassified, Byrd Reworked

Elizabeth Alker shares original unclassifiable sonic creations made especially for the programme, as three contemporary composers offer new takes on the music of William Byrd to mark four hundred years since the Renaissance man’s death.

 

The Listening Service

Sunday 2 July. 5.00-5.30pm (repeated Friday 7 July 4.30-5.00pm)

BBC Radio 3 - The Listening Service, Secret Music: Byrd's Masses

Tom Service explores the three mass settings of William Byrd during dangerous times for Catholics.

Byrd at the BBC Today

 Composer of the Week

BBC Radio 3

Thursday 6 July. 12.00-1.00pm.

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), Recusant

BBC Music Magazine, July 2023, regards this programme as ‘Choice’ listening.

Byrd at the BBC Today

 Composer of the Week

BBC Radio 3

Wednesday 5 July. 11.40-12.40pm.

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), The Chapel Royal

BBC Music Magazine, July 2023, regards this programme as ‘Choice’ listening.

 

Choral Evensong

Wednesday 5 July. 4.00-5.00pm (repeated Sunday 9 July. 3.00-4.00pm)

BBC Radio 3 - Choral Evensong, Lincoln Cathedral

Live from Lincoln Cathedral to mark the 400^th anniversary of the death of William Byrd.

 

Sunday Worship on BBC Radio 4 comes to Stondon Massey

 

Sunday Worship

BBC Radio 4

Sunday 9 July 2023

Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets

BBC Radio 4 - Sunday Worship, Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets

William Byrd is regarded as one of England's greatest composers. He lived through turbulent times through the Sixteenth and early-Seventeenth Centuries, witnessing both significant religious and political change. Despite this, he composed some of the finest music of his time for both the Catholic and Anglican Church.

In the week of the 400th anniversary of his death, The Revd Dr Jonathan Arnold reflects on William Byrd's contribution to Christian music and worship. Jonathan visits the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Stondon Massey in rural Essex - where Byrd is thought to be buried - and also the nearby Ingatestone Hall, the home of the composer's patron, Lord Petre. Jonathan speaks to the current Lord Petre about the connection between Byrd and his patron through their Catholic faith.

Harry Christophers, founder and director of The Sixteen, reflects on the sense of longing and faith in Byrd's music, expressed in the composer's particular attention to the texts he set from scripture.

Byrd remained a Catholic throughout his life, which for many at the time was a dangerous thing to do, but his contribution to music for the Anglican church remains central to music and worship in many churches today.

Byrd's music featured includes Ne irascaris Domine, Tribue Domine, the Nunc dimittis from the Second Service, and movements from his three Masses.

Byrd at the BBC Today

 Composer of the Week

BBC Radio 3

Tuesday 4 July. 12.00-1.00pm.

Composer of the Week - William Byrd (1543-1623) - Lincoln - BBC Sounds

BBC Music Magazine, July 2023, regards this programme as ‘Choice’ listening.

Byrd Masses for Three, Four and Five Voices

The Cardinal’s Musick under their director Andrew Carwood celebrated Byrd’s 400^th anniversary on 4 July 2023 with three one-hour concerts at The Wigmore Hall, London, performing the Three, Four and, Five Part Masses. 

The choir completed recordings of all Byrd’s Latin music in 2010 across 13 discs, and came to Stondon Massey as part of their ‘Byrd Tour’ concerts in September 2012.

The Mass for Four Voices was composed in 1592, with the others completed in 1595 probably in Stondon Massey where Byrd was living.

The big question I ask is how speedily should they be performed?  

Taking the Agnus Dei from the Mass for Voices and probably best loved of Byrd’s pieces by way of example, there seem wide variations in performance.

The Cardinall’s Musick recording of 2000 stands as the benchmark, beautifully sung and coming in at 3’19.

‘Singing in Secret’ (2020) is The Marian Consort’s album recorded under director Rory McCleery. Seeing the choir live at the Roman River Festival last autumn was wonderful and McCleery engages with the audience between pieces.  The disc explores the clandestine Catholic music of William Byrd which includes Justorium animae, Infelix ego, Miserere mei and a complete performance of the Mass spread through the programme. The Agnus dei is a speedy 2’51 which I find a little disappointing in an otherwise lovely disc.

Also interspersed across the programme is The King’s Singers and Concordia’s offering ‘1605. Treason and Dischord. William Byrd and the Gunpowder Plot’.  Byrd knew the plotters but was not involved in the treasonable activity.  Always good, the choir bring home the Agnus dei in 3’30.

Finally, ‘Naked Byrd Two’ is the sequel to a first disc performed by the Armonico Consort, which I heard at Great Tey as part of the Roman River Festival a few years ago.  It is a mixed programme of spell binding singing the only Byrd track being the Agnus dei.  At 3’56 it is by far the most expansive reading with every note and every part being so clearly heard. The final line ‘dona nobis pacem’ almost aches in the need to be granted peace. It is a stunning recording.   Unfortunately, the choir have not recorded the entire Mass but if I was attending Church I would happily let dinner wait and the roasties get overdone to hear it. This is the favourite recording of my favourite Byrd piece.

The Listening Service

Sunday 2 July. 5.00-5.30pm (repeated Friday 7 July 4.30-5.00pm)

BBC Radio 3 - The Listening Service, Secret Music: Byrd's Masses

Tom Service explores the three mass settings of William Byrd during dangerous times for Catholics.

Available for over a year.

 The Essay

First broadcast Tuesday 1 March 2016

BBC Radio 3 - The Essay, Music in Its Time, Music in Its Time - Byrd: Mass for Four Voices

 

Byrd at the BBC Today

Composer of the Week

BBC Radio 3

Monday 3 July. 12.00-1.00pm. 

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), A Man of Many Parts

BBC Music Magazine, July 2023, regards this programme as ‘Choice’ listening.

 

Music Matters

Saturday 1 July. 11.45am-12.30pm (repeated Monday 3 July. 10.00-10.45pm)

BBC Radio 3 - Music Matters, Four hundred years of William Byrd

Tom Service visits Lincoln Cathedral on the 400^th anniversary.

Byrd at the BBC Today

 The Listening Service

Sunday 2 July. 5.00-5.30pm (repeated Friday 7 July 4.30-5.00pm)

BBC Radio 3 - The Listening Service, Secret Music: Byrd's Masses

Tom Service explores the three mass settings of William Byrd during dangerous times for Catholics.

 

Record Review Extra

Sunday 2 July. 9.00-11.00pm

BBC Radio 3 - Record Review Extra, Kirsten Gibson's Byrd

Hannah French offers listeners the opportunity to hear in greater length the pieces discussed in Record Review.  A Byrd fest!

Byrd at the BBC Today

 Record Review

Saturday 1 July. c10.30-11.15am

BBC Radio 3 - Record Review, A survey of William Byrd with Kirsten Gibson and Andrew McGregor

The best of Byrd on CD and to download.

 

Music Matters

Saturday 1 July. 11.45am-12.30pm (repeated Monday 3 July. 10.00-10.45pm)

BBC Radio 3 - Music Matters, Four hundred years of William Byrd

Tom Service visits Lincoln Cathedral on the 400^th anniversary.

 

The Early Music Show

Saturday 1 July. 2.00-3.00pm

BBC Radio 3 - The Early Music Show, William Byrd's keyboard music

 

Byrd at the BBC

 

BBC Radio commemorates the 400^th anniversary of the death of William Byrd with several programmes – all of which can be heard on BBC Sounds for at least 30 days after initial broadcast.  Those which include people from Stondon Massey are highlighted in bold.

 

Sunday Worship. 

BBC Radio 4.

Sunday 9 July 2023.  8.10-8.45am.

BBC Radio 4 - Sunday Worship, Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets

 

Composer of the Week

BBC Radio 3

Monday 3 July. 12.00-1.00pm.  

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), A Man of Many Parts

Tuesday 4 July. 12.00-1.00pm.

Composer of the Week - William Byrd (1543-1623) - Lincoln - BBC Sounds

Wednesday 5 July. 11.40-12.40pm.

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), The Chapel Royal

Thursday 6 July. 12.00-1.00pm.

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), Recusant

Friday 7 July. 12.00-1.00pm.

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), Stondon Massey

BBC Music Magazine, July 2023, regards this programme as ‘Choice’ listening.

 

BBC Radio 3 In Concert

Wednesday 12 July. 7.30-10.00pm

BBC Radio 3 - Radio 3 in Concert, The Sixteen at York Minster

The Sixteen Choir under their director Harry Christophers sing Byrd as part of their Choral Pilgrimage.

 

Choral Evensong

Wednesday 5 July. 4.00-5.00pm (repeated Sunday 9 July. 3.00-4.00pm)

BBC Radio 3 - Choral Evensong, Lincoln Cathedral

Live from Lincoln Cathedral to mark the 400^th anniversary of the death of William Byrd.

 

The Early Music Show

Sunday 2 July. 2.00-3.00pm

BBC Radio 3 - The Early Music Show, William Byrd's keyboard music

 

The Listening Service

Sunday 2 July. 5.00-5.30pm (repeated Friday 7 July 4.30-5.00pm)

BBC Radio 3 - The Listening Service, Secret Music: Byrd's Masses

Tom Service explores the three mass settings of William Byrd during dangerous times for Catholics.

 

Music Matters

Saturday 1 July. 11.45am-12.30pm (repeated Monday 3 July. 10.00-10.45pm)

BBC Radio 3 - Music Matters, Four hundred years of William Byrd

Tom Service visits Lincoln Cathedral on the 400^th anniversary. The programme is available on BBC Sounds for over a year.

 

Record Review

Saturday 1 July. c10.30-11.15am

BBC Radio 3 - Record Review, A survey of William Byrd with Kirsten Gibson and Andrew McGregor

The best of Byrd on CD and to download.

 

Record Review Extra

Sunday 2 July. 9.00-11.00pm

BBC Radio 3 - Record Review Extra, Kirsten Gibson's Byrd

Hannah French offers listeners the opportunity to hear in greater length the pieces discussed in Record Review.  A Byrd fest!

 

Sunday Feature

Sunday 9 July. 6.45-7.30pm

BBC Radio 3 - Sunday Feature, Byrd and Beyond: Challenged by Faith

Harry Christophers, conductor of The Sixteen, examines the powerful relationship between faith and music, both in Byrd’s time and the present day.

 

Unclassified

Thursday 6 July. 11.30pm-12.30am

BBC Radio 3 - Unclassified, Byrd Reworked

Elizabeth Alker shares original unclassifiable sonic creations made especially for the programme, as three contemporary composers offer new takes on the music of William Byrd to mark four hundred years since the Renaissance man’s death.

 

 

Programmes broadcast but still available.

The Early Music Show

First broadcast Sunday 1 January 2023

BBC Radio 3 - The Early Music Show, Happy New Year with Stile Antico and William Byrd

 

The Essay

First broadcast Tuesday 1 March 2016

BBC Radio 3 - The Essay, Music in Its Time, Music in Its Time - Byrd: Mass for Four Voices

 

Front Row

First broadcast Monday 5 March 2012

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Andrew Stanton; William Byrd; sports documentaries

Andrew Carwood and his early music choir The Cardinall's Musick toured the UK performing music by the Elizabethan composer William Byrd.

 

Twenty Minutes

First broadcast Monday 5 March 2012

BBC Radio 3 - Twenty Minutes, William Byrd and Catholicism

 

BBC Radio 3: Composer of the Week. Episode 5 of 5 on Friday 7 July 2023 entitled 'Stondon Massey'

The BBC has announced the playlist of works by William Byrd for inclusion in the final episode of 'Composer of the Week' to be broadcast at 12.00pm on Friday 7 July 2023. The programme is entitled 'Stondon Massey' and will include two contributions to the programme by our local historian Andrew Smith.

Composer of the Week

William Byrd (c1540-1623)

Episode 5 of 5

Stondon Massey

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), Stondon Massey 

Donald Macleod sees Byrd retire to the country and pursue new directions in music and in life.

This week, Donald Macleod marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd, the greatest British musician of his age. Donald is joined all week by Byrd expert Kerry McCarthy to explore Byrd’s story and reveal a composer of determined ambition and powerful convictions. Those who encountered him, found Byrd could be a difficult adversary as well as a loyal friend. Donald also visits Essex to discover what remains of Byrd’s legacy in the places where he felt most at home, and to see how the composer navigated a hazardous path between his Catholic faith and his duty to the crown at a time of great religious intolerance.

Today, Donald returns to Stondon Massey where Byrd lived for nearly 30 years, and searches for clues to his final resting place there. He looks at the legal battles Byrd initiated with some of his neighbours and explores the daring new musical project Byrd set for himself, now he was free of his regular obligations at the Chapel Royal.

Haec dies
Choir of Clare College Cambridge, directed by Timothy Brown

The Battell (extract)
Terence Charlston, virginals
Galiardo ‘Mrs. Mary Brownlow’
Catalina Vicens (virginals)

Responsum accepit Simeon
Nunc dimittis
The William Byrd Choir, directed by Gavin Turner

Come Jolly Swains
Have Mercy on me, O God
Blow up the Trumpet
The Sixteen
Fretwork, directed by Harry Christophers

Galiardo ‘The Earle of Salisbury’
Flora Papadopoulos, double harp

Tristitia et anxietas
Gallicantus

 

BBC Radio 3: Composer of the Week. Series on Byrd announced

 

The BBC has published today details of a series of programmes to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd. The webpage includes a playlist of the music in each episode.

Our local historian Andrew Smith was interviewed this week at Stondon Massey Church and will appear (all being well!) in the first episode which is entitled, appropriately for Byrd, 'A Man of Many Parts'.

Composer of the Week

William Byrd (c1540 – 1623)

Episode 1 of 5

A Man of Many Parts

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), A Man of Many Parts accessed 8 June 2023

Will be broadcast at 12.00pm, Monday 3 July 2023

Donald Macleod shines a light on the intricate tangle of relationships, duties and ideas that surrounded Byrd.

This week (week commencing 3 July 2023), Donald Macleod marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd, the greatest British musician of his age. Donald is joined all week by Byrd expert Kerry McCarthy to explore Byrd’s story and reveal a composer of determined ambition and powerful convictions. Those who encountered him, found Byrd could be a difficult adversary as well as a loyal friend. Donald also visits Essex to discover what remains of Byrd’s legacy in the places where he felt most at home, and to see how the composer navigated a hazardous path between his Catholic faith and his duty to the crown at a time of great religious intolerance.

Today (Monday 3 July 2023), we’re introduced to some of Byrd’s varied roles and identities, as a public servant and a private individual. Plus, Donald investigates how this sometimes isolated composer connected with the community in which he lived.

O Lux Beata Trinitas
Alamire, directed by David Skinner

The Bells
Sophie Yates, virginals

Praise the Lord all Ye Gentiles
The Cambridge Singers, directed by John Rutter

Have Mercy on me O God
Fantasia No 2
Red Byrd
Rose Consort of Viols

Laudibus in Sanctis
Oxford Camerata, directed by Jeremy Summerly

John come kiss me now
Aapo Häkkinen, harpsichord

O You that hear this voice
In fields abroad
Grace Davidson, soprano
Fretwork, directed by David Skinner

Galliard a6
Fretwork

Other episodes during the week are

Episode 2 of 5: Tuesday 4 July 2023

Lincoln

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), Lincoln 

Episode 3 of 5: Wednesday 5 July 2023

The Chapel Royal

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), The Chapel Royal 

Episode 4 of 5: Thursday 6 July 2023

Recusant

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), Recusant 

Episode 5 of 5: Friday 7 July 2023

Stondon Massey

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Byrd (1543-1623), Stondon Massey 

Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3

Available until 10 March 2023 from BBC Sounds is 'Choral Evensong' featuring canticles from Byrd's 'Great Service' written for the Church of England.  Choral Evensong - New College, Oxford - BBC Sounds

BBC Radio 4 feature William Byrd on Front Row

The English composer William Byrd died 400 years ago. To mark this the acclaimed vocal ensemble Stile Antico is about to release an album of his music. Five of the twelve members of the ensemble come to the Front Row studio to sing and talk about Byrd's extraordinary and moving music.

Pieces sung live by five members of the twelve strong choir are 'Retire My Soul' and 'Mass for Four Voices - Kyrie'.

Excerpt of 'Mass for Four Voices - Agnus Dei' from the new album 'The Golden Renaissance'.

The item is at the beginning of the magazine programme (to 14:08)

First broadcast 4 January 2023.

Front Row - Vocal ensemble Stile Antico, Fay Weldon obituary, director John Strickland - BBC Sounds

William Byrd podcast

 Another offering from BBC Sounds - Composer of The Week narrative and music excerpts Composer of the Week - Byrd - BBC Sounds

The Early Music Show

BBC Radio 3 broadcast a programme, 1 January 2023 2pm, to mark William Byrd.

"2023 marks the 400th anniversary of English composer William Byrd - often hailed as one of the finest European late Renaissance. Hannah French explores his influence with vocal ensemble Stile Antico, including music from their newly released recording."

The Early Music Show - Happy New Year with Stile Antico and William Byrd - BBC Sounds