The Chapel Royal
Byrd joins the queen’s personal choir and tries his luck in publishing. With Donald Macleod.
Byrd joins the Queen’s personal choir and tries his luck in publishing. With Donald Macleod.
This week, Donald Macleod explores the life 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, a tragic accident leaves a vacancy at the Chapel Royal. Byrd steps up to join this elite band of musicians and works hard to make the most of his new connections at the royal court. When Queen Elizabeth awards him a patent to print music, surely fame and riches will follow?
Laetentur coeli
The Dunedin Consort
Clarifica Me, I, II & III
Michael Bailey, organ
Magnificat (The Great Service)
Odyssean Ensemble, directed by Colm Carey
Christian Wilson, organ
Peccantem me quotidie
Attollite portas
The Cardinall’s Musick, directed by Andrew Carwood
Come to me grief forever
All as a sea
As I beheld I saw a herdman wild
Martha McLorinan, mezzo soprano
Alamire
Fretwork, directed by David Skinner
Last on
More episodes
Music Played
-
![]()
William Byrd
Laetentur Coeli
Ensemble: Dunedin Consort.- DELPHIAN : DCD-34008.
- DELPHIAN.
- 3.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Clarifica Me, Pater, No 1
Performer: Bailey.- MERIDIAN : 5015959902720.
- MERIDIAN.
- 9.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Clarifica Me, Pater, No 2
Performer: Bailey.- MERIDIAN : 5015959902720.
- MERIDIAN.
- 9.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Clarifica Me, Pater, No 3
Performer: Bailey.- MERIDIAN : 5015959902720.
- MERIDIAN.
- 9.
-
![]()
William Byrd
The Great Service (Magnificat)
Performer: Colm Carey. Ensemble: Odyssean Ensemble. Conductor: Christian Wilson.- LINN : CKD 608.
- LINN.
- 14.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Peccantem me quotidie
Ensemble: Cardinall's Musick. Director: Andrew Carwood.- ASV: CDGAU197.
- ASV.
- 13.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Attollite portas
Ensemble: Cardinall's Musick. Director: Andrew Carwood.- ASV: CDGAU197.
- ASV.
- 5.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Come to me grief forever
Singer: Martha McLorinan. Ensemble: Fretwork. Director: David Skinner.- INVENTA : INV1006.
- INVENTA.
- 17.
-
![]()
William Byrd
All as a sea
Ensemble: Fretwork. Director: David Skinner.- INVENTA : INV1006.
- INVENTA.
- 15.
-
![]()
William Byrd
As I beheld I saw a herdman wild
Singer: Martha McLorinan. Ensemble: Fretwork. Director: David Skinner.- INVENTA : INV1006.
- INVENTA.
- 9.
Broadcasts
- Wed 5 Jul 2023 11:40Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3
- Wed 28 Aug 2024 16:00Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.