This symposium celebrates the 450th anniversary of the birth of William Byrd, one of the greatest English composers. Twelve scholars contribute essays which together cover all the genres of Byrd's prolific output. Topics discussed in this collection include authentication of the canon, applications of new technology to Byrd research, Byrd's relationship to earlier English traditions and his influence on his successors. There are studies concerned with manuscript sources and aspects of performance, and the final contribution is a comprehensive listing of Byrd recordings made between 1923 and 1988. The essays in this volume show a variety of approaches to musical analysis and some of the conclusions are controversial, or offer revisions of earlier opinions. As a body of work, they consolidate Byrd research to date and indicate its future direction.

List of plates; Preface; Abbreviations; 1. Some thoughts about cantus firmus composition; and a plea for Byrd's Christus resurgens Peter Le Huray; 2. The English background to Byrd's motets: textual and stylistic models for Infelix ego Owen Rees; 3. Byrd's manuscript motets: a new perspective John Morehen; 4. Birdus tantum natus decorare magistrum David Wulstan; 5. 'Throughout all generations': intimations of influence in the Short Service styles of Tallis, Byrd and Morley Craig Monson; 6. 'Write all these down': notes on a Byrd song Joseph Kerman; 7. Byrd and Jacobean consort music: a look at Richard Mico John Bennett; 8. Byrd and Tomkins: the instrumental music John Irving; 9. Baldwin and the Nevell hand Hilary Gaskin; 10. My Ladye Nevells Booke and the art of gracing Desmond Hunter; 11. Some anonymous keyboard pieces considered in relation to Byrd Oliver Neighbour; 12. A Byrd discography Michael Greenhalgh; Index of Byrd's works cited; Index of names.