William Byrd

William Byrd was a noted English composer, remembered as much for his Latin sacred music as for his works on English madrigal. A famous composer of the Renaissance era, in London, he began his training in music at the age of seven. Later he became a chorister at the Chapel Royal and began composing music while being trained under Thomas Tallis. He began his career as the Master of Children at the Church of Lincoln and then became the Gentleman of the Chapel Royal. Over his extensive career he wrote varied types of music. His position in the Chapel Royal enabled him to come in close contact with both the Royalty and the noblemen at the Court, many of whom later became his patrons. However, he often antagonized the authorities in Protestant England because of his leanings towards Roman Catholicism; but his loyalty to the government was never questioned. That is why apart from being fined for recusancy, he did not have to face any kind of persecution. Writing extensively for every medium except lute, he left a large body of work and took the English keyboard style to new heights.