Travels with

Andrew Carwood

Byrd probably spent most in the capital until his removal It is likely that the young Byrd Catholicism to did of his early to middle life in to the rural haven of Stondon was a chorister somewhere in not survive her own death. . His two brothers Massey. London, possibly even at the Her lasting legacy may well be William Byrd (1539 - 1623) were choristers at St Paul’s Chapel Royal and this would the explosion in composition Cathedral and Byrd himself is village is but a few miles explain how he came into during her reign as composers e decision to perform must surely have had some from Hall, the contact with omas Tallis. were once again able to write every note of William Byrd’s musical education as a boy home of the Petre family and more substantial pieces in Latin church music in a series but no records have yet come a centre for Catholic activity Latin and could give free of concerts around the UK to light to show in which in the area. Byrd seems to have reign to their imaginations. seemed a logical next step institution this took place. been a regular visitor at the Page from Byrd’s ‘Gradualia’ Byrd wrote a funeral elegy for for e Cardinall’s Musick. Hall from about 1586 onwards Queen Mary (Crowned with Having completed a thirteen and he spent the whole of the repeatedly refused to attend  owers and lilies) although he CD survey of the music in Christmas season there in the services there and received did not publish it until 1611, Latin we were struck not only 1589. It may be that Byrd was a large number of censures for once Elizabeth had passed by the astonishingly high tired of life in London or was this - but his body must surely away and James I sat on the omas Tallis (c.1505 - 1585) quality of the compositions unhappy at the increasing lie in the locality. throne of England. but also by the sophistication anti-Catholic bias of the of the composer’s wit and the government but in either case At least two of the venues It is likely therefore that they James’s mother, Mary Queen intensity of his emotion. Too he moved to Stondon Massey on this tour were important both sang at the great wedding of Scots, had a di cult and little of this great man’s music permanently from about 1594. centres for the Catholic cause in Winchester and at the troubled life. Blessed with is heard regularly and the Byrd Much of his music from this at various times throughout the various celebrations in London beauty and an attractiveness Tour 2012 hopes to redress point would have been inspired sixteenth century. Winchester therea er. It would also explain which men found di cult to this situation with sixteen by, if not directly written for, Cathedral was the venue for how Byrd met Phillipe de resist, sadly she was not given concerts around the UK which the clandestine services which Mary I’s wedding to Philip II of Monte, the only non-Spanish the gi of a steady head. A Spain on 25th July 1554. Philip musician in Philip II’s sizeable will allow every note of his Lincoln Cathedral took place around Ingatestone, queen in her own right and music in Latin to be heard in (‘Old England; A Pictorial Museum’ 1845 including the three settings of had arrived at Southampton on musical entourage, with whom cousin to Elizabeth she was a the space of one year. Central - Charles Knight) the Mass and the two books of 19th July and Mary was keen to he was to exchange music in rallying point for disa ected to this tour are performances A er a brief time as Organist Gradualia published in 1605 have a sumptuous wedding as years to come. English Catholics and a thorn in some of the places which of Lincoln Cathedral, he and 1607. In his will, Byrd quickly as possible, hence the in her cousin’s side. Inevitably were important to Byrd and returned to London in 1572 asked to be buried in Stondon choice of nearby Winchester Mary’s marriage to Philip plots grew around her and his supporters - Stondon to become a Gentleman of the Massey near his wife. It is rather than London: the couple did not give her the great at least one of Byrd’s near Massey (), Winchester, Chapel Royal (in succession to unlikely that the Parish Church met just two days before the support and love for which she neighbours in Stondon Massey Fotheringhay and Arundel. Robert Parsons) and remained was the site of his burial - Byrd celebration. longed and her restoration of had been connected with an 42 43