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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

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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:

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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.

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"1st. It is a knowledge easily taught, and quickly learned, 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 and in many that

"not one among a thousand that hath it;

"excellent gift is lost, because they want art to express

"nature.

"7th. There is not any musicke of instruments what"soever, comparable to that which is made of the voyces "of men; where the voyces are good, and the same well "sorted and ordered.

"Sth. 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,

"I wish all men would learn to sing."

"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.*

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"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 "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,

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"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 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 Lordship, that if 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 happy, and your end blessed; I wish there were any thing in me worthy of your Lordship to be commanded.

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"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.

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"The Epistle to the Reader.

'Benign Reader, here is offered unto thy courteous ac"ceptation, 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

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