LA MUSA MADRIGALESCA. WILLIAM BYRD. WILLIAM BYRD is supposed to have been born about the year 1545, and died in 1623. Although better known as a composer of ecclesiastical than of secular music, several of his works are extant, by which he appears to have been equally skilful in both kinds: nevertheless his fame would hardly have reached beyond the walls of our Cathedrals, but for the circumstance of his being the reputed composer of the celebrated Canon Non nobis, Domine, of tavern dinner notoriety. I say reputed, for I do not find any satisfactory authority on the subject. Dr. Pepusch, in his Treatise on Harmony, A.D. 1730, distinctly calls it "the "famous Canon by William Byrd"; that is, however, no positive proof, any more than the assertions of those who state that it appears under Byrd's name in Hilton's Catches, Rounds, &c., published in 1652, for I can aver (having that work at present before me) that no name is there prefixed to the canon in question. Now, had it been written by a man of such celebrity, it is by no means likely that Hilton (a composer himself long before Byrd's death,) would have been ignorant of the fact; or knowing it, that he would have omitted to prefix the composer's name, in B the same manner as he has done to almost all the other Rounds, &c. in the collection, and to one by Byrd amongst the number. Again, it appears in J. Playford's Introduction to Music, a work contemporary with that of Hilton, (the first edition bearing date 1655,) there likewise sine nomine; but it seems evidently to have been in estimation, for in the frontispiece, Playford is represented with a sheet of paper in his hand, whereon are engraved the music and words of Non nobis, Domine. Had Playford been a composer of celebrity, this fact alone would be a much stronger proof of authorship in his favour than any that appears in favour of Byrd, for an adjunct of this kind to a picture almost invariably has reference to some work or action of the person portrayed. Dr. Tudway in the Manuscript collection of music made for the Earl of Oxford A.D. 1715, and now in the British Museum, attributes it to Thomas Morley, but as several errors occur in that work, little reliance can be placed on its authority. It may, however, be worthy of notice, that in Morley's Introduction to Music, page 157, a point or passage is given to the scholar as a Canto fermo whereon to maintain a fugue, which passage is as near as may be the first six bars of Non nobis, Domine. Some have given it to Palestrina, who flourished about the year 1570, and it has been said that a copy is preserved with great care in the Vatican Library. If so, why do not some of our countrymen at Rome set that matter at rest, by ascertaining the fact? Having thus endeavoured to show that there is no decided proof of its being the composition of Byrd, I am sorry that I cannot throw any further light on the subject: I know not when it was first used as a grace after meat, nor am I aware that it possesses any qualities as a canon that entitle it to rank higher than many others written at the same period. Byrd was a pupil of Tallis, and until the year 1588, appears to have confined himself to the composition of sacred songs, motetts, &c. to Latin words; but when about that time, an importation of lighter strains arrived from Italy, he found it advisable to follow, although cautiously, the prevailing fashion. His first miscellaneous collection bears the following title: 66 "Psalmes, Sonnets and Songs of Sadness and Pietie, "(thirty-five in number,) made into music of five parts, "whereof some of them going abroade among divers, in un"true copies, are here truly corrected; and the other being songs very rare and newly composed, are here published "for the recreation of all such as delight in musicke, by "William Byrd, one of the Gentlemen of the Queen's Ma"jestie's Honorable Chappell.-Printed by Thomas East, "the Assign of W. Byrd, and are to be sold at the dwelling"house of the said T. East, by Paul's Wharfe.-1588." In the next page are the following "Reasons briefly set "down by th' Auctor, to persuade every one to learn to "sing. "1st. It is a knowledge easily taught, and quickly learn❝ed, where there is a good Master, and an apt Scoller. "2nd. The exercise of singing is delightful to Nature, "and good to preserve the health of man. "3rd. It doth strengthen all parts of the breast, and "doth open the pipes. "4th. It is a singular good remedie for a stutting and "stammerring in the speech. "5th. It is the best means to procure a perfect pronun"ciation, and to make a good Orator. "6th. It is the only way to know where Nature hath be"stowed a good voyce; which gift is so rare, as there is "not one among a thousand that hath it; and in many that "excellent gift is lost, because they want art to express "nature. 66 "7th. There is not any musicke of instruments whatsoever, comparable to that which is made of the voyces "of men; where the voyces are good, and the same well "sorted and ordered. "8th. The better the voyce is, the meeter it is to honour " and serve God therewith; and the voyce of man is chiefly "to be employed to that ende. "Omnis Spiritus laudet Dominum. "Since singing is so good a thing, "Dedication. "To the Right Honorable Sir Christopher Hatton, Knight, "Lord Chancellor of England, William Byrd wisheth long "life, and the same to be most healthie and happie.* "The often desires of many of my good friends, Right "Honorable, and the considerations of many untrue incor"rected coppies of divers of my songs spred abroade, have "beene the two causes chiefly moving my consent, at length 66 to put in print the fruits of my small skill and labours in "musicke. Then the dutie, honor, and service due from me "unto your Lordship, together with the remembrance of "your judgment and love of that art, did move and em *Sir C. Hatton was descended of a family more ancient than great, in Northamptonshire; and being a tall handsome young man, and of a goodly countenance, he came into such favour with the Queen, that first she made him one of her Gentlemen Pensioners; afterwards for his modest pleasant behaviour, she made him one of the Gentlemen of Her Privy Chamber; then she made him Captain of the Guard, Subchamberlain, and one of the Privy Council; and lastly, Lord Chancellor of England, and one of the Order of St. George. He was a man of a goodly disposition, and of a great pity to the poor; one very liberal towards all good scholars, whereupon he was chosen Chancellor of Oxford; and one that performing so weighty a calling as the Chancellorship of England, kept himself always with an upright conscience.-History of the Life and Reign of that famous Princess Elizabeth, by Thomas Browne, 1629, 66 "bolden me to present this first printed work of mine in English to pass under your Lordship's favour and pro"tection; unworthie I confess the view or patronage of so "worthie a personage. Yet remembering that small things "sometimes do great service, and that repose is best tasted 66 66 by bodies fore-wearied; I hoped that (by this occasion) "these poor songs of mine might haply yield some sweetness, repose, and recreation unto your Lordship's mind, "after your daily pains and cares taken in the high affairs of "the commonwealth. Most humbly beseeching your Lord 66 66 ship, that if my boldness herein be faulty, my dutiful good "will and good meaning may excuse it; which if I may so fortunately perceive, it shall encourage me to suffer some "other things of more depth and skill to follow these, which being not yet finished, are of divers expected and desired. "Incessantly beseeching our Lord to make your years hap"py, and your end blessed; I wish there were any thing in "me worthy of your Lordship to be commanded. 66 "Most humbly your Lordship's ever to command, "WILLIAM BYRD." I always fancy that the character of an author can be understood from his dedication or preface. There is such a kindly feeling of good fellowship expressed by Byrd towards his reader in the following address, that I feel certain he must have been a delightful person. 66 66 "The Epistle to the Reader. Benign Reader, here is offered unto thy courteous acceptation, musicke of sundrie sorts, and to content divers "humours. If thou be disposed to pray, here are Psalms; "if to be merrie, here are sonets; if to lament for thy "sinnes, here are songs of sadnesse and pietie. If thou "delight in musicke of great compasse, here are divers songs, which being originally made for instruments to express the harmonie, and one voyce to pronounce the 66 66 |