List of compositions by William Byrd

This is a list of compositions by William Byrd, one of the most celebrated English composers of the Renaissance.

Vocal works

Masses (c. 1592–5) Mass for Three Voices (c. 1593–4) Mass for Four Voices (c. 1592–3) Mass for Five Voices (c. 1594–5)

Latin motets

Cantiones sacrae (Cantiones, quae ab argumento sacrae vocantur) (1575) Emendemus in melius á 5 Libera me Domine et pone me á Peccantem me quotidie á 5 Aspice Domine á 6 Attollite portas á 6 O lux beata Trinitas á 6 Laudate pueri Dominum á 6 Memento homo á 6 Siderum rector á 5 Da mihi auxilium á 6 Domine secundum actum meum á 6 Diliges Dominum á 8 Miserere mihi Domine á 6 Tribue Domine; Te deprecor; Gloria Patri á 6 Libera me Domine de morte aeterna á 5 Gloria patri á 6 Te deprecor á 6

Liber primus sacrarum cantionum (Cantiones Sacrae I) (1589) (all for 5 voices)

Defecit in dolore – Sed tu Domine Domine praestolamur – Veni Domine noli tardare O Domine adjuva me Tristitia et anxietas – Sed tu Domine Memento Domine Vide Domine afflictionem – Sed veni Domine Deus venerunt gentes – Posuerunt morticinia – Effuderunt sanguinem – Facti sumus opprobrium Domine tu jurasti Vigilate In resurrectione tua Aspice Domine de sede – Respice Domine Ne irascaris Domine – Civitas sancti tui O quam gloriosum est regnum – Benedictio et claritas Tribulationes civitatum – Timor et hebetudo – Nos enim pro peccatis Domine secundum multitudinem Laetentur coeli – Orietur in diebus

Liber secundus sacrarum cantionum (Cantiones Sacrae II) (1591)

for 5 voices: Laudibus in sanctis – Magnificum Domini – Hunc arguta Quis est homo – Diverte a malo Fac cum servo tuo Salve Regina – Et Jesum Tribulatio proxima est – Contumelias et terrores Domine exaudi orationem – Et non intres in judicium Apparebit in finem Haec dicit Dominus – Haec dicit Dominus Circumdederunt me Levemus corda Recordare Domine – Quiescat Domine Exsurge Domine Miserere mei Deus

for 6 voices: Descendit de coelis – Et exivit per auream portam Domine non sum dignus Infelix ego – Quid igitur faciam? – At te igitur Afflicti pro peccatis – Ut eruas nos Cantate Domino Cunctis diebus Domine salva nos Haec dies

Gradualia: ac cantiones sacrae, liber primus (Gradualia I) (1605)

for 5 voices:

Marian masses

For the Purification Suscepimus Deus Sicut audivimus Senex puerum portabat Nunc dimittis Responsum accepit Simeon

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Salve sancta parens Benedicta et venerabilis - Virgo Dei genitrix Felix es sacra Beata es Virgo Beata viscera

Lady Mass in Advent Rorate caeli desuper Tollite portas Ave Maria Ecce Virgo concipiet

Lady Mass in Christmastide Vultum tuum Speciosus forma Post partum Felix namque

Assumption Gaudeamus omnes Diffusa est gratia Assumpta est Maria Optimam partem

All Saints Gaudeamus omnes Timete Dominum Justorum animae Beati mundo corde

Miscellaneous pieces Gaude Maria Alleluia – Ave Maria – Virga Jesse Adoramus te Christe (voice + 4 viols)

for 4 voices:

Corpus Christi Cibavit eos Oculi omnium Sacerdotes Domini Quotiescunque manducabitis Ave verum corpus O salutaris hostia O sacrum convivium [Pange lingua] – Nobis datus

Miscellaneous pieces Ecce quam bonum Christus resurgens Visita quaesumus In manus tuas Laetania Salve sola Dei genitrix Senex puerum portabat Hodie beata Virgo Maria Deo gratias Unam petii a Domino Plorans plorabit

for 3 voices:

Marian antiphons and hymns Quem terra pontus aethera O gloriosa Domina Memento salutis auctor Ave Maris stella Regina caeli Salve Regina Alma redemptoris mater Ave Regina caelorum

Holy Week and Easter Alleluia – [Vespere autem sabbathi] Quae lucescit Haec dies Angelus Domini descendit Post dies octo – Mane nobiscum Passio Domini secundum Johannem (Turbarum voces)

Candlemas Adorna thalamum tuum

Gradualia: seu cantionum sacrarum, liber secundus (Gradualia II) (1607)

for 4 voices:

Nativity Puer natus est nobis Viderunt omnes Dies sanctificatus Tui sunt coeli Viderunt omnes Hodie Christus natus est O admirabile commertium O magnum misterium Beata Virgo

Epiphany Ecce advenit Dominator Dominus Reges Tharsis Vidimus stellam Surge illuminare

Corpus Christi and The Blessed Sacrament Ab ortu solis Venite comedite Alleluia – Cognoverunt discipuli Ego sum panis vivus O quam suavis Jesu nostra redemptio

for 5 voices:

Easter Resurrexi Haec dies Victimae paschali Terra tremuit Pascha nostrum

Ascension Viri Galilei Alleluia – Ascendit Deus Dominus in Sina Ascendit Deus Psallite Domino O rex gloriae

Pentecost Spiritus Domini Alleluia – Emitte spiritum tuum Veni sancte spiritus Confirma hoc Deus Factus est repente Veni sancte spiritus Non vos relinquam orphanos

for 6 voices:

SS. Peter and Paul Nunc scio vere Constitues eos principes Solve jubente Deo Tu es Petrus Hodie Simon Petrus Tu es pastor ovium Quodcunque ligaveris

Miscellaneous Laudate Dominum Venite exultemus

Unpublished Latin settings

A majority of the unpublished works are found in private partbooks collections. A number of 5- and 6-voice works found in the Baldwin Partbooks are rendered incomplete, as the Tenor partbook has been lost.

for 3 voices: Sanctus (authenticity uncertain) Alleluia. Confitemini Domino / Alleluia. Laudate pueri

for 4 voices: Christe qui lux es et dies

for 5 voices: Audivi vocem a5 Benigne fac a5 [-1] Christe qui lux es et dies Decantabat populus (authenticity uncertain) De lamentatione Jeremiæ prophetæ [-1] Domine Deus omnipotens [-1] Domine exaudi orationem Ne perdas cum impiis Omni tempore benedic Deum Peccavi super numerum Petrus beatus Reges Tharsis (authenticity uncertain) Sacris solemniis (authenticity uncertain) Vide Domine quoniam tribulor (authenticity uncertain)

for 6 voices: Circumspice Jerusalem - Ecce enim veniunt [-2] Deus in adjutorium [-1] Domine ante te [-1] O salutaris hostia

for 8 voices: Ad Dominum cum tribularer Quomodo cantabimus

for 9 voices: Domine quis habitabit

Consort song: Quis me statim

English music

Psalmes, sonnets, and songs of sadness and pietie (1588) (all for 5 voices)

Psalms O God give ear and do apply Mine eyes with fervency of sprite My soul oppressed with care and grief How shall a young man prone to ill O Lord how long wilt thou forget O Lord who in thy sacred tent Help Lord for wasted are those men Blessed is he that fears the Lord Lord in thy wrath Even from the depth

Sonnets and Pastorals I joy not in no earthly bliss Though Amaryllis dance in green Who likes to love let him take heed My mind to me a kingdom is Where fancy fond for pleasure pleads O you that hear this voice If women could be fair Ambitious love What pleasure have great Princes As I beheld I saw a herdman wild Although the heathen poets In fields abroad Constant Penelope La verginella Farewell false love The match that's made

Songs of sadness and piety Prostrate O Lord I lie All as a Sea Susanna fair If that a sinner's sighs Care for thy soul Lulla, Lullaby Why do I use?

The funeral songs of that honourable Gent., Sir Phillip Sidney, Knight Come to me grief for ever O that most rare breast

Songs of sundrie natures (1589)

for 3 voices: Lord in thy rage Right blest are they Lord in thy wrath correct me not O God which art most merciful Lord hear my prayer From depth of sin Attend mine humble prayer Susanna fair The nightingale When younglings first on Cupid fix their sight – But when by proof Upon a summer's day – Then for a boat The greedy hawk

for 4 voices: Is Love a boy? – Boy pity me Wounded I am – Yet of us twain From Cytheron the warlike boy is fled – There careless thoughts are freed – If Love be just O Lord my God While that the sun Rejoice rejoice [Chorus of From virgin's womb] Cast off all doubtful care [Chorus of An earthly tree]

for 5 voices: Weeping full sore Penelope that longed for the sight Compel the hawk See those sweet eyes When I was otherwise When first by force I thought that Love had been a boy O dear life Love would discharge From virgin's womb Of gold all burnished – Her breath is more sweet

for 6 voices: Behold how good a thing – And as the pleasant morning dew An earthly tree an heavenly fruit Who made thee, Hob, forsake the plough And think ye Nymphs to scorn at love – Love is a fit of pleasure If in thine heart Unto the hills mine eyes I lift Christ rising again – Christ is risen again

The first sett, of Italian madrigalls Englished (1590)

for 6 voices: This sweet and merry month of May

Psalmes, songs, and sonnets (1611)

for 3 voices: The eagle's force Of flatt'ring speech In winter cold – whereat an ant Who looks may leap Sing ye to our Lord I have been young In crystal towers

for 4 voices: This sweet and merry month of May Let not the sluggish sleep A feigned friend Awake mine eyes Come jolly swains What is life or worldly pleasure? [Instrumental] Fantazia Come let us rejoice unto our Lord

for 5 voices: Retire my soul Arise Lord into thy rest Come woeful Orpheus Sing we merrily unto God – Blow up the trumpet Crowned with flowers Wedded to will is witless Make ye joy to God

for 6 voices: Have mercy upon me [Instrumental] Fantazia This day Christ was born O God that guides the cheerful sun Praise our Lord, all ye Gentiles Turn our captivity Ah silly soul How vain the toils

Teares or Lamentacions of a Sorrowfull Soule (1614) for 4 voices: Look down, O Lord, on me a poor man Be unto me, O Lord, a tower of strength

for 5 voices: I laid down to rest and sleep Come help O God

Unpublished English settings Services Byrd wrote at least five services.The Treasury of English Church Music 1545-1650, ed. Peter Le HurayWilliam Byrd: A Research and Information Guide, Richard Turbet Short ('First') Service, for 6 voices Venite Te Deum Benedictus Kyrie Creed Magnificat Nunc Dimittis Second Service, for 5 voices Magnificat Nunc Dimittis Third Service, for 5 voices Magnificat Nunc Dimittis Great Service, for 10 voices Venite Te Deum Benedictus Kyrie Creed Magnificat Nunc Dimittis Short Morning Service (fragment)

Full anthems Arise O Lord (6vv) Exalt thyself O God (6vv) How long shall mine enemies triumph? (5vv) O God the proud are risen (6vv) O God whom our offences have displeased (5vv) O Lord make thy servant Elizabeth (6vv) O praise our Lord (5vv) Out of the deep (6vv) Prevent us O Lord (5vv) Save me O God (5vv) (authenticity uncertain) Sing joyfully (6vv)

Verse anthems Alack when I look back Behold O God the sad and heavy case Christ rising again/Christ is risen Hear my prayer O Lord O Lord rebuke me not Thou God that guid'st

Consort songs An aged dame Ah golden hairs As Cæsar wept Blame I confess Come pretty babe Content is rich Crowned with flowers and lilies Delight is dead E'en as the seas Fair Britain isle Have mercy on us Lord He that all earthly pleasure scorns In angel's weed I will not say The Lord is only my support Lord to thee I make my moan The man is blest Mount Hope My freedom My mistress had a little dog O God but God O Lord bow down O Lord how vain O Lord within thy tabernacle O that we woeful wretches Out of the orient crystal skies Rejoice unto the Lord Sith death at length Sith that the tree Though I be brown Thou poets' friend Triumph with pleasant melody Truce for a time Truth at the first What steps of strife Where the blind While Phœbus used to dwell With lilies white Wretched Albinus Ye sacred muses

Keyboard works BK numbers refer to Musica Britannica: William Byrd Keyboard Music, ed. Alan Brown (London: Stainer & Bell, 2 vols, 1969/71) My Ladye Nevells Booke (1591) My Ladye Nevells Grownde, BK57 Qui Passe; for my Ladye Nevell, BK19 The Marche before the Battell, BK93 The Battell, BK94: The souldiers sommons; The marche of footemen; The marche of horsmen; The trumpets; The Irishe marche; The bagpipe and the drone; The flute and the droome; The marche to the fighte; The retreat The Galliarde for the Victorie, BK95 The Barleye Breake, BK92 A Galliards Gygge, BK18 The Huntes upp, BK40 Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La, BK64