William Byrd (b. Lincoln, 1543; d. Stondon Massey, Essex, 1623)

Byrd, along with his teacher Thomas Tallis, is generally considered the greatest of the Elizabethan composers; his contemporaries called him “the Father of Musicke.” Byrd was appointed organist of Lincoln Cathedral at an early age and by 1575 had risen high enough in royal favor to secure a monopoly over printed music for himself and Tallis.

Although he is known for his outstanding contributions to sacred vocal music, Byrd was also a virtuoso harpsichordist who wrote inventive, tuneful keyboard compositions. Additionally, he is noted for his accompanied songs, madrigals, and instrumental dances.

At age fifty Byrd left the court and moved to Essex, where he could write Catholic liturgy with little interference from hostile authorities who took often unspeakably horrible punitive action against those who refused to attend the Reformed church. Byrd conceived and brought to completion an ambitious plan—highly dangerous at the time— to provide music for the Roman Catholic liturgy. Two volumes entitled Gradualia include numerous settings of texts that celebrate events important to Catholics. His dogged pursuit of his faith and of his grand musical design illustrates the power of the human spirit.