{"id":1101,"date":"2025-03-13T16:40:29","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T15:40:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reitzesmits.nl\/?p=1101"},"modified":"2026-01-26T18:58:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:58:13","slug":"byrd-set-for-the-organ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reitzesmits.nl\/en\/byrd-set-for-the-organ\/","title":{"rendered":"Byrd, set for the organ"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three volumes with music by William Byrd, \u2018set for the organ\u2019 with two manuals and pedal.<\/p>\n

A few examples, recorded on the Kiespenning organ in the Grote Kerk in Wijk bij Duurstede:<\/p>\n

The woods so wylde<\/p>\n

The third Pavian<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.reitzesmits.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1.-Pavian-gemonteerd.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Organists hardly know this brilliant colleague of Sweelinck. Wrongly so. Byrd wrote a large pile of music for keyboard instrument, probably the virginal or the harpsichord. But titles such as Voluntary and polyphonic Fantasies with long notes seem to indicate a performance on organ. House organs were common at the time and there are reports that when these organs were removed from churches for religious reasons, they were placed in teahouses and \u2018taverns\u2019, where the organists simply continued to play, now perhaps also with the light dances and variations on folk songs that can be found in the same collections as the \u2018serious\u2019 music.<\/p>\n

A beautiful manuscript has been preserved with music by Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke. From this collection a selection has been made with pieces that lend themselves well to playing on the organ. The notes have hardly changed, but suggestions for the use of two manuals and pedal have been added.<\/p>\n

The music is available at boeijengamusic.com:<\/p>\n

My Ladye Nevells Booke, Vol. 1<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n