Gradulia
Andrea Campbell
MUSC 311
Dr. Hugo
Oct. 19 2012
Introduction William Byrd was one of the best English composers during the renaissance era. He is one of the greatest known Elizabethan composers of scared music and one of the main writers for the virginals. He wrote many different forms of music that were popular in England at the time. Some of these include sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard, and consort music. He was known for taking main music forms and giving them his own identity. Since Byrd lived for a long time, he encountered many forms of vocal and instrumental music in which he gave his own style. Many of his pieces reflect the emotions he was feeling during a certain time. The biography of William Byrd can be seen through his early life, personal life, professional life, and of course through his publications.
Biographical and Background of William Byrd William Byrd was born in 1543 in Lincoln, London. He was the son of Thomas Byrd. He had four sisters and two older brothers, Symond and John, who were both choristers at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Throughout his younger years, Byrd was greatly influenced by music. He grew up in the Chapel Royal where he studied music with Thomas Tallis. After Byrd spent many years at the Chapel Royal, he continued to stay with Tallis as his assistant. Byrd had a love for composing and stringed instruments. In 1563 he was appointed organist and master of the choristers at the Lincoln Cathedral. Seven years later he was sworn in as a Gentleman in the Chapel Royal, while retaining his job at the Lincoln Cathedral until 1572. After 1572, he remained with Tallis as organist of the Chapel Royal. Though Byrd had an interesting upbringing in the Chapel Royal and Lincoln Cathedral, that did not stop him from having a personal life. In 1568 he married Julian Birley, who came from a Lincolnshire family. They had a long