Psalmes, Sonnets and Songs (William Byrd)

General Information

Publication date and place: 1588 .

Composer: William Byrd

Following the commercial failure of the Cantiones Sacrae, published jointly with Tallis in 1575, Byrd waited another eleven years before venturing into print again. This time, he trusted his fortunes to a collection of secular music, no doubt encouraged by the growing popularity in England of Italian madrigals adapted to English words, and specifically to the success in the same year of Nicholas Yonge's collection Musica Transalpina (which had itself included a piece by him). This time, too, he had judged public taste better, as the collection was a great success and went through several editions in the following years.

Despite the popularity of the pieces, all of which are for 5 voices, it appears that none of them were originally written as unaccompanied polyphonic songs, but that all originated as consort songs for a single voice and four viols. Byrd acknowledges these origins in the print, often designating the original solo voice as "the first singing part".

The collection is dedicated to Sir Christopher Hatton, who had become Lord Chancellor in the previous year.

Contents of the Psalmes, sonets, & songs of sadnes and pietie

Psalms 1. O God give ear 2. Mine eyes with fervency 3. My soul oppressed with care 4. How shall a young man 5. O Lord, how long wilt thou forget 6. O Lord, who in thy sacred tent 7. Help, Lord, for wasted are those men 8. Blessed is he that fears the Lord 9. Lord in thy wrath reprove me not 10. Even from the depth

Sonnets and Pastorals 11. I joy not in no earthly bliss 12. Though Amaryllis dance in green 13. Who likes to love 14. My mind to me a kingdom is 15. Where fancy fond 16. O you that hear this voice 17. If women could be fair 18. Ambitious love 19. What pleasure have great princes 20. As I beheld I saw a herdman wild 21. Although the heathen poets 22. In fields abroad 23. Constant Penelope 24. La Virginella 25. Farewell false Love 26. The match that's made

Songs of sadness and piety 27. Prostrate O Lord I lie 28. All as a sea 29. Susanna fair 30. If that a sinner's sighs 31. Care for thy soul 32. Lullaby my sweet little baby 33. Why do I use my paper, ink and pen? Funeral Songs 34. Come to me grief for ever 35. O that most rare breast

Works at CPDL

Title	Year	No.	Composer	Genre	Subgenre	Vo.	Voices
All as a sea	1588	28	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
Although the heathen poets	1588	21	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
Ambitious love	1588	18.	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	ATTBB
As I beheld I saw a herdman wild	1588	20	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
Blessed is he that fears the Lord	1588	8	William Byrd	Sacred	Sacred songs	5	SATTB
Care for thy soul	1588	31	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SAATB
Come to me grief for ever	1588	34	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SSATB
Constant Penelope	1588	23	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	ATTBB
Even from the depth	1588	10	William Byrd	Sacred	Sacred songs	5	ATTBB
Farewell false Love	1588	25	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
Help, Lord, for wasted are those men	1588	7.	William Byrd	Sacred	Sacred songs	5	SAATB
How shall a young man	1588	4	William Byrd	Sacred Sacred	Partsongs Consort songs	5	SATTB
I joy not in no earthly bliss	1588	11	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
If that a sinner's sighs	1588	30	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
If women could be fair	1588	17	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	ATTBB
In fields abroad	1588	22	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
La Virginella	1588	24	William Byrd	Secular	Madrigals	5	SATTB
Lord in thy wrath reprove me not	1588	9	William Byrd	Sacred	Sacred songs	5	SAATB
Lulla, lullaby, my sweet little baby	1588	32	William Byrd	Sacred	Partsongs	5	SAATB
Mine eyes with fervency	1588	2	William Byrd	Sacred	Partsongs	5	ATTBB
My mind to me a kingdom is	1588	14	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SAATB
My soul oppressed with care	1588	3	William Byrd	Sacred	Partsongs	5	SATTB
O God give ear	1588	1	William Byrd	Sacred	Partsongs	5	ATTBB
O Lord, how long wilt thou forget	1588	5	William Byrd	Sacred	Sacred songs	5	SATTB
O Lord, who in thy sacred tent	1588	6	William Byrd	Sacred	Sacred songs	5	SATTB
O that most rare breast	1588	35	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
O you that hear this voice	1588	16	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
Prostrate O Lord I lie	1588	27	William Byrd	Sacred	Partsongs	5	SATBB
Susanna fair (1588)	1588	29	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
The match that's made	1588	26	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
Though Amarillis dance in green	1588	12	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SAATB
What pleasure have great princes	1588	19	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATBB, SATTB
Where fancy fond	1588	15	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
Who likes to love	1588	13	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SATTB
Why do I use my paper, ink and pen?	1588	33	William Byrd	Secular	Partsongs	5	SAATB