Come and Sing Byrd's Great Service

Petros Singers are delighted to join forces with Toby Ward  – Renaissance specialist and co-founder and artistic director of Ensemble Pro Victoria – for a come-and-sing workshop exploring the rich world of William Byrd’s Great Service. Composed in the late 16th century, this pinnacle of Elizabethan music is noted for its immense scale and lavish, dramatic styling designed for the Chapel Royal.

Written for ten-part double choir, the Great Service is an Anglican curio amidst the output of Byrd, himself a devoted Catholic. Partly, this is because Byrd never published the work: it remained undiscovered until 1922, when it was unearthed among a bundle of miscellaneous partbooks in Durham Cathedral Library.

Musically, however, the Great Service differs so vastly in ambition and sophistication – not only from Byrd’s other Anglican liturgical settings, but also from his Catholic music – that scholars have speculated about its provenance ever since. Was it written as an elaborate resignation from the Chapel Royal benches? Was it an overzealous Anglican apology after Byrd had been implicated in a Catholic cover-up? Or was it a piece so close to Byrd’s heart that he could not bear to publish it?

Whatever the answer, the Great Service is widely regarded as the high-water mark of English Renaissance vocal music and offers singers immense rewards. As Richard Bannan, our musical director, puts it: “There are few pieces in the English language equal in endeavour, enterprise or ambition. Byrd wrote ‘since singing is so fine a thing, I wish all men would learn to sing’: nowhere in Anglican music is this sentiment better expressed.”

Whether you’re an experienced choral singer or simply love the purity of Renaissance music, our workshop offers the chance to immerse yourself in Byrd’s extraordinary writing. During the workshop, Toby will lead us through a selection of movements while placing Byrd’s work in context, introducing both Anglican and Catholic pieces from across his career.

We look forward to welcoming you on Saturday 17th October for what promises to be an inspiring and uplifting afternoon of music-making.

Toby Ward read Music at King’s College, Cambridge, specialising in early music and continuo performance, while holding a choral scholarship with the renowned King’s College Choir under Sir Stephen Cleobury. During this time, he toured internationally, performed regularly on BBC radio and television, and sang major solo roles in the annual Carols from King’s broadcasts. He subsequently undertook postgraduate vocal studies with Alison Wells at the Royal College of Music.

As a conductor, Toby has directed live on BBC Radio 3 with Ensemble Pro Victoria and has appeared at festivals including the London International Festival of Early Music and the Cambridge Early Music Festival. He is also in demand as a guest conductor, répétiteur, vocal coach, and continuo player across London.

Workshop timetable
Registration is from 1:30pm. The workshop will run from 2:00–6:00pm with a break for tea-time refreshments, which are included in the ticket price. Please see petrossingers.org – or the BUY TICKETS link – for full details.