DULCIE HOLLAND’S ‘ALLELUIA’
21 May 2022
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22 May 2022
WILLIAM BYRD'S 'SING JOYFULLY'
William Byrd (c.1540 – 1623)
This piece is the sort of 'title track' to our next Australian Boys Choir performance. William Byrd is a celebrated composer of the English Renaissance, highly regarded for his expressive choral music. We have performed a number of his pieces over the years, most recently the famous mass settings for four and five voices.
Byrd’s sacred music can be classed into two categories: those for the Catholic liturgy (with a text in Latin) and those designed for the officially recognised Church of England. Byrd himself was a Catholic, which was rather problematic during the reign of the Tudor Monarchs. However, given his outstanding reputation, he was subject to less persecution than most Catholics at that time.
He produced a large body of work (over 450 pieces) and apart from church music also wrote madrigals, keyboard and consort music. This year is the 400th anniversary of his death, and choirs all over the world are celebrating this fact.
This piece ties in with our brief to perform music specifically written for boys and men. We are a bit larger than most groups of singers during Byrd's time but that just serves to amplify the jubilant qualities of the piece. Our concert season is packed pretty tightly this year, but we couldn't have let 2023 pass without a nod to William Byrd in this anniversary year for this great composer. The piece is also a great concert opener and puts an audience in a great mood!
Sing joyfully by William Byrd in the hand of Thomas Tudway. Source: Wikimedia Commons, provided by the British Library from its digital collections.
One of the main features of this piece is the interplay between each of the six voices. Sometimes they copy each other, or even sing in duet. The texture is imitative and the parts only rarely come together to sing the same words at the same time - a feature which adds declamatory emphasis. 'Sing Joyfully' also features a number of sections which contrast in mood. Some are more introspective but the overall mood is definitely one of jubilation. Most choirs also perform this piece in a higher key than Byrd wrote, but we are performing it in the original tonality which gives a luscious sonority.
This is classic choral music with sweeping lines. There is no accompaniment, so we say that the piece is for voices a cappella. In general, there is a strong rhythmic drive and the parts also compete with one another quite a bit, adding to the excitement of this great work. Before attending our ‘Sing Joyfully’ performances, you can get a taste of this piece below.
Sing Joyfully Concert Details
Saturday 19th August at Sacred Heart Cathedral Bendigo | Sunday 20th August at St. Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne
Also live-streamed on the Australian Digital Concert Hall platform. World-wide digital access, including 72-hour delayed viewing.
To learn more about the exciting concerts and events planned for 2023,
please see
www.australianboyschoir.com.au/concerts
Members of the Australian Boys Choir and The Vocal Consort onstage at Melbourne Recital Centre with Artistic Director Nicholas Dinopoulos, December 2022. Photo by Jane Kupsch.
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