June 28th, 2014
“Why Learne to Sing?” has been published by GIA Publications, Inc. as part of the Music at Westminster Series.
Why Learne to Sing? uses excerpts from the preface to William Byrd’s 1588 anthology, Psalms, Sonets, and Songs of Sadnes and Pietie. The archaic spelling of sixteenth-century English was generally kept intact. since the text is not a poem, unconventional and frequently changing time signatures were chosen to accomodate the uneven rhythms of the text. The “omnis spiritus laudet Dominum” section uses its corresponding Pro Defunctis chant, which dates to as early as the 1300s, giving this text an even more ancient quality.
Purchase your copy today!
Patrick Dunnevant 