Composer

:

William Byrd

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Galliard

Average_duration

:

6:15

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

William Byrd's Pavan & Galliard Lachrymae, MB 54-55, is a set of two pieces for keyboard, composed in the late 16th century. The pieces were likely composed around 1590, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The Pavan & Galliard Lachrymae are part of a larger collection of keyboard music composed by Byrd, which includes other sets of pavans and galliards, as well as fantasias, variations, and other forms. The Pavan & Galliard Lachrymae are structured as a pair of dances, with the pavan being a slow, stately dance in duple meter, and the galliard being a faster, more lively dance in triple meter. The two pieces are linked thematically, with the galliard being a variation on the pavan's main theme. The pieces are also linked by their use of the "Lachrymae" or "tears" motif, which is a descending four-note figure that appears throughout both pieces. The Pavan & Galliard Lachrymae are notable for their expressive and melancholic character. The use of the "Lachrymae" motif, along with the slow tempo and minor key of the pavan, give the pieces a mournful quality. The galliard, while more lively, still retains a sense of sadness and introspection. The pieces are also notable for their intricate counterpoint and use of chromaticism, which give them a complex and sophisticated harmonic language. Overall, the Pavan & Galliard Lachrymae are a prime example of Byrd's skill as a composer of keyboard music. They showcase his ability to create expressive and emotionally powerful music within the constraints of the dance form, and demonstrate his mastery of counterpoint and harmony. The pieces remain popular with performers and audiences today, and are an important part of the keyboard repertoire of the Renaissance period.

More....