William Byrd

By Daniel Brandon
General Information
● An English organist and composer of
the Renaissance born in 1538 in
Lincoln, United Kingdom
● He wrote in many of the forms current
in England at the time, including various
types of sacred and secular polyphony,
keyboard, and consort music.
Timeline of William Byrd
● born in 1538 in Lincoln, United Kingdom
● Begins musical training at the age of 7
● in 1563 William Byrd meets Thomas Tallis and becomes the organist and
master of the choristers at Lincoln Cathedral
● In 1572, he becomes a member of the Chapel Royale
● In 1575 Elizabeth I granted William Byrd and Thomas Tallis a joint monopoly
for the importing, printing, publishing, and sale of music and the printing of
music paper.
● 1585-1591 he published four collections of his own music: Psalmes, Sonets,
& Songs of Sadness and Pietie (1588), Songs of Sundrie Natures (1589), and
two further books of Cantiones sacrae (1589 and 1591).
● 1593-1595- He composes and publishes three masses for 3,4,and 5 voices
Accomplishments
● Best known for his development of the English madrigal.
● He also wrote virginal and organ music that elevated the English keyboard style
to new heights
● Composed and published what are considered to be the finest 4 and 5 voice
masses composed by an English Composer in his time.
 Summary: The Legacy of William Byrd
● He wrote extensively for every medium then available
except, it seems, the lute.
● His virginal and organ music brought the English keyboard
style to new heights and pointed the way to the
achievements of other English composers, such as John
Bull, Giles Farnaby, Orlando Gibbons, and Thomas Tomkins.
● Even played an extremely important role, pioneering the
development of the freely composed fantasia, which was to
become the most important form of Jacobean and later
composers.
Thank You!!!