Secret Music: Byrd's Masses
Tom Service explores the three mass settings of William Byrd, composed during dangerous times for Catholics.
England in the 1590s. Elizabeth I is the reigning monarch and the religion of the country is Protestantism. Celebrating Catholic mass is outlawed. What does William Byrd, one of Elizabeth's most favoured composers, do? He writes three settings of the Catholic Mass in Latin. Why? Who will perform them? And what will happen to him as a result?
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Music Played
-
![]()
The Trashmen
Surfin' Bird
- BeatRocket.
- BR-107.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 4 voices: Kyrie
Performer: PETER PHILLIPS. Performer: Tallis Scholars.- Gimell.
- CDGIM208.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 4 voices: Agnus Dei
Performer: Stile Antico.- DECCA.
- 4853951.
-
![]()
Paul McCreesh, Sailsbury Cathedral Boy Choristers & Gabrieli Consort
Viderunt omnes fines terre - communion chant for Christmas Day [from Gradual of Eleanor of Brittany c.1270]
- ARCHIV.
- 457 658-2.
-
![]()
Robert Fayrfax
Missa O quam glorifica for 5 voices: Gloria
Performer: Andrew Carwood. Performer: Cardinall's Musick.- ASV.
- CD GAU-142.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 3 voices: Gloria
Performer: Andrew Carwood. Performer: The Cardinall’s Musick.- ASV.
- CDGAU206.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 5 voices: Sanctus
Performer: Stile Antico.- HYEPRION.
- CDA665517.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Fantasia
Performer: Davitt Moroney.- HYEPRION.
- CDA665517.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Fantasia no. 2 in A minor for consort a 4
Performer: Fretwork.- CORO.
- COR16193.
-
![]()
William Byrd
The Great service for 5-10 voices: Magnificat
Conductor: James O’Donnell. Performer: Choir of Westminister Abbey.- Hyperion.
- CDA67770.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 5 voices: Benedictus
Conductor: James O’Donnell. Performer: Choir of Westminister Abbey.- Hyperion.
- CDA67770.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 4 voices: Agnus Dei
Performer: Stile Antico.- DECCA.
- 4853951.
-
![]()
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Missa Papae Marcelli for 6-7 voices: Agnus Dei
Conductor: Harry Christophers. Performer: The Sixteen.- CORO.
- COR16014.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 3 voices: Gloria
Performer: Andrew Carwood. Performer: Cardinall's Musick.- ASV.
- CD GAU-206.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 4 voices: Kyrie
Performer: Stile Antico.- DECCA.
- 4853951.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 5 voices: Credo
Conductor: Andrew Carwood. Performer: The Cardinall’s Musick.- ASV.
- CDGAU206.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 4 voices: Credo
Conductor: Andrew Carwood. Performer: The Cardinall’s Musick.- ASV.
- CDGAU206.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 3 voices: Credo
Conductor: Andrew Carwood. Performer: The Cardinall’s Musick.- ASV.
- CDGAU206.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 3 voices: Agnus Dei
Conductor: Andrew Carwood. Performer: The Cardinall’s Musick.- ASV.
- CDGAU206.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 5 voices: Agnus Dei
Conductor: Andrew Carwood. Performer: The Cardinall’s Musick.- ASV.
- CDGAU206.
-
![]()
William Byrd
Mass for 4 voices: Agnus Dei
Performer: Stile Antico.- DECCA.
- 4853951.
Broadcasts
- Sun 2 Jul 2023 17:00±«Óătv Radio 3
- Fri 7 Jul 2023 16:30±«Óătv Radio 3
Why do we call it 'classical' music?
Tom Service poses a very simple question (with a not-so-simple answer).
Six of the world's most extreme voices
From babies to Mongolian throat singers: whose voice is the most extreme of all?
How did the number 12 revolutionise music?
How Schoenberg opened a new cosmos for composers and listeners to explore.
Why are we all addicted to bass?
Bass is everywhere, but why do we enjoy it? Join Tom Service on a journey of discovery.
Watch the animations
Join Tom Service on a musical journey through beginnings, repetition and bass lines.
When does noise become music?
We like to think we can separate “noise” from “music”, but is it that simple?
Podcast
-
![]()
The Listening Service
An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service
