I first got to know his music, and first sang his music, as a teenager at school in Scotland.
His music is known among the singing community, the choral community, but maybe beyond that he’s not as well known as he should be.
Classical music audiences tend to forget about the pre-Baroque, and it’s a pity because William Byrd is one of music history’s great figures.
Another wonderful motet by Byrd is “Justorum animae,” which is basically a commemoration or a celebration of martyrs.
I think Byrd and Tallis knew people who were arrested, and I think there were some composers for one reason or another during this time arrested.
Persons:
James MacMillan MacMillan, Byrd, —, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Tallis, Shostakovich
Locations:
Scotland