Byrd - Canonic Fantasia 1: Ut Re Mi played by Maxwell Steer

This is the first of a pair of pieces in the 'Fitzwilliam' Virginal Book (compiled c160) which show William Byrd's resourceful imagination. A motif of 6 adjacent notes (C D E F G A) rises & falls 17 times during the piece in varied ways, around which Byrd brings in exhilarating rhythmic developments.
I've intercut footage of nearby Wardour Castle (& my dogs!) to illustrate the kind of environment in which the music would first have been heard. Derelict since the English Civil War, Wardour Castle was built in the 15thC by the Arundell family who, like Byrd, never converted to Protestantism and were typical of the Catholic aristocracy that formed Byrd's protectors - tho there is no record of his ever visiting Wardour.
My harpsichord was made in 1996 by Michael Ellis-Jones using a Delin Flemish copy.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• byrd
• harpsichord
• virginals
• fitzwilliam
• Elizabeth
• Michael
• Maxwell
• Steer
• ColourMuse
• tregian

[Joaquin6646]

I love it

[Squeezebach]

WOW...

Bravo!

[giu13pet]

bello !

[fnersch]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience.

[jazzysaxplayer]

This was so charming, it was played to perfection. Thanks for posting!

[jww4977]

This is one of my favorite pieces in the Fitzwilliam book. Thanks for putting this out there!

[angelofdarkness15]

this is nice

[Clavichordist]

This is a very enjoyable performance. I've played this piece as well, but not as well. ;)

I agree with Baroqueboy. The Flemish instruments have that wonderful fluty tone like the virginal.

[baroqueboy]

This is truly amazing. Tasteful and heartfelt playing, and an unbelievable instrument. Flemish harpsichords seem to have a sort of flutey, resonant sound, almost like a virginal. The left hand part around 1:59-2:04 remind me of certain moments in Corelli sonatas and even Handel's organ concerto "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale". Other parts of this piece bring Monteverdi to mind. I really love English late renaissance and early baroque keyboard music!

[mehskillzpwnyou]

Ut = epic