Byrd Prevent us O Lord
Although Byrd compared himself often to his teacher, Thomas Tallis, he was not required to write church music in quite so many styles as Tallis did - the political and religious situation in England in Byrd's lifetime was a little more settled. Nonetheless he had to face up to the same basic challenge as Tallis: to write music for the Protestant authorities when arguably his heart wasn't really in it; and to find opportunities to write the kind of music he really wanted to write - for the Catholic liturgy - and not be arrested for it.
As in Tallis's time the compositional methods required for those two traditions were different. The style of this anthem is relatively straightforward, conforming to the Protestant ideal that the words be in the vernacular and audible. To this end much of the writing is chordal. (Peter Phillips, 2006)
Reading Responses
John Reading (born c1685/1686 - died 2 Sep 1764 London) was an English composer, organist and copyist. His greatest importance lies in his work as a transcriber, arranger and copyist of a wide variety of music.
Parsons Great Service
Robert Parsons (c. 1535 - January 1571/2) was an English composer. Although little is known about his life, it is likely that in his youth he was a choir boy, as until 1561 he was an assistant to Richard Bower, Master of the Children Choristers of the Chapel Royal.
Parsons was appointed Gentleman of the Chapel Royal on 17 October 1563. His work consisted of a number of sacred and secular vocal compositions. He is believed to have died in January 1571/2 when he fell into the then swollen River Trent and was drowned. He may have been a teacher of, or at least an influence on, William Byrd at Lincoln Cathedral. Byrd succeeded him as Gentleman of the Chapel Royal.
Bach Singet dem Herrn
An unaccompanied sacred motet written for double choir, the text is derived from Psalms 149, Psalm 150, and Johann Gramann's hymn Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren. Singet dem Herrn was likely written in 1727 for the Leipzig city and university festival celebrating the birthday of King August, who visited the town after having survived a grave illness.
