Haec Dies - William Byrd [1540 - 1623]

This motet is from the Missale Romanum and is the Gradual after the Epistle and before the Sequence Victimae Paschali. It was composed for 6 voices (SSATTB)for the Traditional Tridentine Mass. Byrds' composition shares much in common with Palestrina. Both employ 6 voices; both are essentially jubilant in character; and both have rhythmic pattern duple for the words "Haec dies quam fecit Dominus" and for the final "Alleluia" section, triple for the middle section "exultemus et laetemur in ea". Byrd expresses his joy in this piece through polyphony, the voices engaging in subtle cross-rhythms.

Latin:
Haec dies quam fecit Dominus;
exultemus et laetemur in ea.
Alleluia.

English translation:
This is the day which the Lord hath made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Alleluia.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Haec Dies
• William Byrd
• Tudor church music
• Renaissance
• Catholic
• Latin
• Tridentine Mass
• Missale Romanum
• Cantiones sacrae
• Easter liturgy

[handyman109]

Yet another fine video expertly created. Well done yet again.

[aalexmary]

Beautiful! Lord Jesus bless!

[FRAGIORGIO1]

@OZDE32 Can all present Europeans?

[LouisvilleTorn8o]

@kittykitty1987 I don't think that our choir director would even attempt this with us, and he has done some pretty difficult pieces. If he ever conducts either of our choirs in this piece, it would be an extremely pleasant surprise. Byrd is my favorite composer of sacred music, and just about anything of his is beautiful. He was going through a lot of persecution, yet there's so much joy in his music.

[kittykitty1987]

@LouisvilleTorn8o surprisingly, it's not all that difficult: the intervals and rhythms for each line are very straightforward, the difficulty comes in the timing and expression, both of which are a joy to tackle with a sufficiently enthusiastic group. I first sang this piece as a treble at age 10 for a cathedral choir in the uk, and have loved and delighted in it ever since - every time you sing it, you discover new nuances. Beautiful.

[najika852]

wait... this motet... is this O Mitissima/Virgo/Haec Dies??

[vulcan1429]

@OZDE32 No we can't...so have mercy...

[OZDE32]

@iRyamm i know, i was immature

[iRyamm]

@OZDE32 A very immature statement in itself. I am American, and I truly understand the absolute beauty illuminating from these six voices. So please, it is people like you who are flooding this world with blasphemous statements like this that put a bad name down for people like me. Please understand that with patience, one will become all and all will become all. Thank you.

[ohmusic25]

I was exposed to this piece via the King's Singers i feel in love with it the moment I heard it. I appreciate this version of this piece, with it's cutting execution of the Cs in the "Haec". It truly is beautiiful to the ear and if you love polyphony then this piece is a shining example of it. Thank you for posting.

[LouisvilleTorn8o]

Wow...That sounds tough to sing with all those cross rhythms just before the Alleluia. Some modern composers just don't have a clue...