William Byrd was active around the time of William Shakespeare, and the style of his music gives the listener a sense of the type of music which would have been used in the great writer’s plays. Byrd wrote in many forms, but one of his greatest achievements is his My Ladye Nevells Booke, a collection of pieces for keyboard. (The autograph copy of this gorgeous work may be viewed online through the British Library’s digital collection.) The work contains dances, grounds, short keyboard pieces, and several pairs of Pavans and Galliards. The Pavan is a slow, ceremonial dance, which contrasts with the upbeat Galliard which follows. These works are written in a choral style, with the performer often playing 4 or 5 independent voices simultaneously; they contain many hidden beauties not always audible on first listening, such as imitation, canon, and other contrapuntal devices.Bryan Wagorn
Classical Music | Piano Music
William Byrd
The Firste Pavian and Galliarde, BK29 Play
Recorded on 12/06/2012, uploaded on 12/06/2012
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
William Byrd was active around the time of William Shakespeare, and the style of his music gives the listener a sense of the type of music which would have been used in the great writer’s plays. Byrd wrote in many forms, but one of his greatest achievements is his My Ladye Nevells Booke, a collection of pieces for keyboard. (The autograph copy of this gorgeous work may be viewed online through the British Library’s digital collection.) The work contains dances, grounds, short keyboard pieces, and several pairs of Pavans and Galliards. The Pavan is a slow, ceremonial dance, which contrasts with the upbeat Galliard which follows. These works are written in a choral style, with the performer often playing 4 or 5 independent voices simultaneously; they contain many hidden beauties not always audible on first listening, such as imitation, canon, and other contrapuntal devices. Bryan Wagorn
More music by William Byrd
Fantasia in a minor
O, Mistris Myne, from the Fitswillam Virginal Book
Magnificat, from Short Service
O lux beata Trinitas
Galliard, from The Quadran Pavan & Galliard
Pavan, from The Quadran Pavan & Galliard
Agnus Dei, from Mass For Five Voices
Performances by same musician(s)
Die Zeitlose, from Letzte Blätter
Waitin’, from Cabaret Songs
Ein Traum, from Sechs Lieder, Op. 48
Over the Piano, from Cabaret Songs
La flûte de Pan, from Chansons de Bilitis
Ruhe Sanft, from Zaide
Le tombeau des naïades, from Chansons de Bilitis
Nichts, from Letzte Blätter
Claire de lune, from Quatre chansons de jeunesse
Geduld, from Letzte Blätter
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