Biography
The foremost English composer of his generation, Byrd excelled in every genre from sacred vocal music to consort works and solo keyboard pieces. His keyboard music — pavans, galliards, grounds, variations, and fantasias — is foundational to the English virginalist tradition and appears prominently in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book and My Ladye Nevells Booke. His sets of variations on popular tunes (The Carman's Whistle, Walsingham, Sellinger's Round) are among the earliest keyboard masterworks.
Works (10)
Other
- Pavan and Galliard, Sir William Petre Difficulty
- The Bells Difficulty
- Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La Difficulty
- Pavan and Galliard, The Earl of Salisbury Difficulty
Variations
- Rowland (Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home) Difficulty
- Sellinger's Round (Variations) Difficulty
- The Carman's Whistle (Variations) Difficulty
- Walsingham Variations Difficulty
Fantasia
- Fantasia in A minor Key A minor Difficulty
Suite
- The Battle Suite Difficulty