O Lord, make thy servant Elizabeth (William Byrd)
Music files
Original text
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2021-03-22). Score information: A4, 14 pages, 235 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. Underlay included for later sovereigns.
- Editor: Gary D. Cannon (submitted 2020-06-03). Score information: Letter, 5 pages, 83 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes:
- Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2017-11-18). Score information: A4, 6 pages, 106 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: A bar-less edition of the anthem.
- Editor: Diana Thompson (submitted 2006-01-08). Score information: A4, 5 pages, 130 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Transposed up a minor third. Includes a keyboard reduction of the a cappella choral score.
- Editor: Robin Doveton (submitted 2005-10-19). Score information: A4, 6 pages, 199 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Transposed up a major 3rd. Revised Sept 2020.
- Editor: Sabine Cassola (submitted 2004-01-15). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 152 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes:
- Editor: Rupert Preston Bell (submitted 2002-05-30). Score information: A4, 6 pages, 46 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: for ATTBBB
Subsequent dedicatees
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- Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31). Score information: A4, 8 pages, 156 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: This edition is transposed a minor third above the original written pitch, and is scored for SAATTB. This pitch is suggested for most choirs with this distribution. A contemporary organ part is provided, but this setting may also be sung unaccompanied. This version of the work is a reconstruction of the form in which is was performed at Cambridge in the late 1620s. This includes alterations to the music compared to earlier sources, and period musica ficta and ornamentation, all derived from sources in Cambridge in the 1620s. It is texted to ‘Charles our King’.
- Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31). Score information: A4, 8 pages, 156 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: This edition is transposed a fourth above the original written pitch, and is scored for SAATTB. This pitch is suggested for choirs who would prefer not to use an edition in four flats, and whose basses are comfortable in a high register. A contemporary organ part is provided, but this setting may also be sung unaccompanied. This version of the work is a reconstruction of the form in which is was performed at Cambridge in the late 1620s. This includes alterations to the music compared to earlier sources, and period musica ficta and ornamentation, all derived from sources in Cambridge in the 1620s. It is texted to ‘Charles our King’.
- Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31). Score information: A4, 8 pages, 157 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: This edition is transposed a tone above the original written pitch, and is scored for SAATTB. This pitch is suggested for choirs who would prefer not to use an edition in four flats, and whose altos are comfortable in a low register. A contemporary organ part is provided, but this setting may also be sung unaccompanied. This version of the work is a reconstruction of the form in which is was performed at Cambridge in the late 1620s. This includes alterations to the music compared to earlier sources, and period musica ficta and ornamentation, all derived from sources in Cambridge in the 1620s. It is texted to ‘Charles our King’.
- Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31). Score information: A4, 8 pages, 156 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: This edition is set at the original written pitch, and is scored for ATTBBB. A contemporary organ part is provided, but this setting may also be sung unaccompanied. This version of the work is a reconstruction of the form in which is was performed at Cambridge in the late 1620s. This includes alterations to the music compared to earlier sources, and period musica ficta and ornamentation, all derived from sources in Cambridge in the 1620s. It is texted to ‘Charles our King’.
General Information
Title: O Lord, make Thy servant Elizabeth
Composer: William Byrd
Number of voices: 6vv Voicings: SAATTB or ATTBBB
Genre: Sacred, Anthem
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
Manuscript 1580 in Dow Partbooks, no. 57
Description: This is an anthem of intercession for the monarch. **(It is likely it was intended to be performed on the ‘King’s Day’, traditionally coinciding with Epiphany, but later moved to the separate celebration of the accession of the monarch)**. It may also be performed on any occasion where prayers for the Royal Family are suitable, including services of Evensong and Matins where the intercessory state prayers are used. It was a particularly popular composition by Byrd, and was performed regularly long after its composition. The earliest sources specify ‘Elizabeth, our Queen’, but later manuscript sources survive in versions adapted to later monarchs, including James I, James II, Charles I, Charles II, and William of Orange. **(The majority of sources appear explicitly to incorporate the current monarch by name)**. **verification/citation required
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text O Lord, make thy servant [Elizabeth our Queen]* to rejoice in thy strength: |
German translation O Herr, lass deine Dienerin Elisabeth, unsere Königin, sich deiner Stärke erfreuen. Gib ihr, was ihr Herz begehrt, und versage ihr nicht den Wunsch auf ihren Lippen, sondern komme ihr zuvor mit deinem ewigwährenden Segen, und gib ihr ein langes Leben, sogar ein ewiges. Amen. |
- Christopher Shaw editions
- Gary D. Cannon editions
- Andrew Sims editions
- Diana Thompson editions
- Keyboard reduction
- Robin Doveton editions
- Sabine Cassola editions
- Rupert Preston Bell editions
- Hugo Janacek editions
- William Byrd compositions
- SAATTB
- 6-part choral music
- ATTBBB
- Sacred music
- Anthems
- Works in English
- A cappella
- 1580 works
- Texts
- English texts
- Translations
- German translations
- Sheet music
- Renaissance music