Chapter 7: William Byrd

The History of Essential Music, Chapter 7: William Byrd - The Firste Pavian and Galliarde

The year is 1570. Here is our first full instrumental piece.

Year: 1570
Composer: William Byrd
Album: My Ladye Nevells Booke
Performer: Christopher Hogwood
Genre: Renaissance Music

William Byrd (1539/40-1623): He was an English composer and organist and is credited with over 500 works. Byrd may have been a pupil of composer Thomas Tallis (spoiler: we will hear from him soon).

Christopher Hogwood (1941-2014): He was a British harpsichordist, conductor, musicologist and broadcaster. He is a recognized specialist in baroque music and the classical period.

My Ladye Nevells Booke: A manuscript compilation of keyboard pieces by the English composer William Byrd, and one of the most significant collections of English Renaissance music.

The Firste Pavian: This piece is composed for virginal, though it is often played on the piano.

Virginal: The virginal is a musical instrument of the family of keyboard and plucked string instruments. Unlike the harpsichord, where the strings are arranged perpendicular to the keyboard, those of the virginal are almost parallel.

New song of the day

Artist: Cryptae
Album: Capsule
Song: Pearl
Genre: Death Metal, Avant-Garde Metal 

Cryptae is a duo from Netherlands who just released their second album Capsule.