Pieter-Jan Belder - Byrd: Complete Harpsichord and Organ Music (2023)

Byrd's vocal works would have assured him a place in history as the greatest English composer of his generation. Yet he was also the outstanding composer of his time in the realm of instrumental music - indeed, probably the first musician to achieve supreme stature simultaneously in music for voices, for instrumental consort and for solo keyboard instrument. This richly imaginative and polished music gives no hint of its pioneer nature; considering the keyboard tradition, or rather the apparent lack of tradition before Byrd, the originality of his achievement is awesome.

His genius is to transfer with such apparent ease his ideas from the brain to the page, and to the keyboard, without spoiling their freshness in the process. ‘The Naturall inclination and love to the Art of Musicke,’ he wrote, ‘wherein I have spent the better part of mine age, have been so powerfull in me, that even in my old yeares which are desirous of rest, I cannot containe my selfe from taking some paines therein.’ His words indicate not only a continually refreshed wellspring of imagination but also a perfectionist temperament that continually drove him to refine his technique. In the hands of Pieter-Jan Belder, whose experience in the field of 17th-century keyboard music is almost unrivalled, these songs and dances and themes and variations seem to develop and unfold as naturally as a tree buds and spreads. Only one recording of Byrd’s complete music for keyboards has been made before now, and it is now unavailable, leaving this new recording by Pieter-Jan Belder in magnificent solitude. The collection begins with two discs of pieces for organ, played on a trio of Dutch instruments chosen for their varied colours and sizes. CD3 and 4 contains the pieces to be found in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, of which Belder made the first ever complete recording for Brilliant Classics. The last three discs are dedicated to My Lady Nevells Booke, the beautifully preserved collection which most comprehensively preserves his contribution to keyboard literature.

Tracklist
01. Jhon, Come Kisse me Now, BK81
02. Pavan, BK16a
03. Galliard, BK16b
04. Pavan Ph(Ilippa) Tr[Egian], BK60a
05. Galliard, BK60b
06. Ladye Monteagle's Pavan, BK75
07. A Ground, BK9
08. The Queenes Alman, BK10
09. If my complaints, BK103 (Pipers Galliard)
10. Pavan the Earl of Salisbury, BK15a
11. Galliards, BK15b/C
12. Susanna Fair, MBLV50 (123)
13. An Alman, BK117
14. Echo Pavan, BK114a
15. Galliard, BK114b
16. Pavan, BK76
17. Galliard, BK77
18. The Bells, BK38
19. Robbin Hood, MBV63
20. Pavan, BK100a
21. Galliard, BK100b
22. A Praeludium, BK116
23. Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, BK58
24. Three French Coranto's, BK21
25. O quam gloriosum est regnum, BK119
26. ….Secunda pars, BK120
27. Goe from my Windoe, BK79
28. A Horne Pype, BK39
29. Pavana lachrymae, BK54
30. Galiarda, BK55 (Harding set by Byrd)
31. Paven, BK73a
32. Galiard, BK73b
33. A Grounde, BK43
34. Pavion, BK23a
35. Galliard, BK23b
36. A Fancy, MBLV55 (Arr. Tomkins)
37. If my Complaints or Pypers gal(Iard), BK118
38. Pavan, BK33a
39. Galliard, BK33b
40. Care for thy Soule, MBLV52
41. Galliardo Mris. Marye Brownlo, BK34
42. Paven, BK72a
43. Galliard, BK72b
44. Parludam, BK115
45. A Grounde, BK86
46. Lavolta, MB 91
47. Pavan in A Minor, MB 99a (Arr. Byrd)
48. Galliard in A Minor, MB 99c
49. Quadran Pavan, MB 70a
50. The Quadran Galliard, MB 70b
51. The Hunt's Up, MB 40
52. Pavan in G Minor, MB 4a
53. Galliard in G Minor, MB 4b
54. Prelude in A Minor, MB 12
55. Pavan in A Minor, MB 14a
56. Pavan in D Minor, MB 52a
57. Galliard in D Minor, MB 52b
58. Fantasia in G Major, MB 62
59. Wolsey's Wilde CLVII
60. Ut, mi, re CII
61. O Mistris myne LXVI
62. The Ghost CLXII
63. Sir John Gray's Galliard CXCI
64. Gipseis Round CCXVI
65. Alman LXIII
66. Malt's come down CL
67. A Medley CLXXIII
68. Pavana 'Delight' E. Johnson set by Byrd CCLXXVII
69. Galiarda CCLXXVIII
70. Miserere a3 CLXXVI
71. Miserere a4 CLXXVII
72. Callino Casturame CLVIII
73. Pavana 'Bray' XCI
74. Galliard XCII
75. A Gigg CLXXXI
76. Praeludium XXIV
77. Pavan CCLVI
78. Corranto CCXLI
79. Fortune LXV
80. Alman CLXIII
81. Galliard CLXIV
82. Monsieur's Alman LXI
83. Alman CLVI
84. La volta CLIX
85. In nomine CXL
86. Prelude in G Minor, BK1
87. Fantasia in G Major, BK63
88. Christe, qui lux (Es et dies), BK121
89. Fantasia, MBLV55 (Byrd arr. Thomas Tomkins)
90. In nominee, BK51 (Parsons set by Byrd)
91. Ut re mi, BK65
92. Gloria tibi trinitas, BK50
93. A Ground, BK9 (2)
94. Prelude & Fantasia in A Minor, BK12&13
95. The Queens Alman, BK10
96. Voluntary for my Lady Nevell, BK61
97. Pavan Lachrymae, BK54 (Dowland arr. Byrd)
98. Fantasia in G Major, BK62
99. Fantasia A Lesson in Voluntaire in C Major, BK26
100. Miserere, BK66
101. Miserere, BK67
102. Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, BK58 (2)
103. Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, BK64
104. A Verse of Two Parts, BK28
105. A Fancie in D Minor, BK46
106. Salvator Mundi, BK68
107. Salvator Mundi, BK69
108. A Voluntarie in C Major, BK27
109. Clarifica me, BK47
110. Clarifica me, BK48
111. Clarifica me, BK49
112. Prelude and Fantasia in C Major, BK24&25
113. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: I. My Ladye Nevels Grownde, MB57
114. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: II. Qui passe for my Ladye Nevell, MB19
115. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: III. The Marche Before the Battell, MB93
116. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: IV. The Battell, MB94 - The Souldiers Sommons
117. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: V. The Galliarde for the Victorie, MB95
118. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: VI. The Barelye Breake, MB92
119. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: VII. A Galliards Gygge, MB18
120. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: VIII. The Huntes Upp, MB41
121. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: IX. Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La, MB64
122. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: X. The Firste Pavian, MB29
123. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XI. The Galliarde to the Same
124. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XII. The II Pavian, MB71
125. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XIII. The Galliarde to the Same
126. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XIV. The III Pavian, MB14
127. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XV. The Galliarde to the Same
128. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XVI. The IIII Pavian, MB30
129. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XVII. The Galliarde
130. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XVIII. The V Pavian, MB31
131. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XIX. The Galliarde
132. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XX. Pavana the VI. Kinbrugh Goodd, MB32
133. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXI. The Galliard
134. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXII. The Seventh Pavian, MB74
135. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXIII. The Eighte Pavian, MB17
136. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXIV. The Passinge Mesures Pavan, MB2
137. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXV. The Galliarde
138. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXVI. A Voluntarie for my Ladye Nevell, MB61
139. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXVII. Will Yow Qalke the Woodes Soe Wylde, MB85
140. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXVIII. The Maidens Song, MB82
141. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXIX. A Lesson of Voluntarie, MB26
142. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXX. The Seconde Grownde, MB42
143. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXI. Have with Yow to Walsingame, MB8
144. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXII. All in a Garden Grine, MB56
145. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXIII. Lord Willobies Welcome Home, MB7
146. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXIV. The Carmans Whistle, MB36
147. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXV. Hughe Ashstons Ground, MB20
148. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXVI. A Fancie, MB25
149. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXVII. Sellingers Rownde, MB84
150. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXVIII. Munsers Almaine, MB88
151. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XXXIX. The Tenthe Pavian, Mr W Peter, MB3
152. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XL. The Galliard
153. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XLI. A Fancie, MB46
154. My Ladye Nevells Booke, IWB 162: XLII. A Voluntarie, MB27