William Byrd
One of the great masters of the English Renaissance, William Byrd distinguished
himself in a wide variety of genres, and his influence extended to the European
continent. Probably born in London around 1540, he grew up in a wealthy family
in which music played an important role. Although little is known about his
musical education, it is accepted that he was certainly a choirboy at the Chapel
Royal and a pupil, then assistant, of Thomas Tallis. Appointed to the post of
organist at Lincoln Cathedral from 1563 to 1572, he had already composed several
polyphonic pieces, before servi...
