Maister Byrd, “Sweetnesse, Repose, and Recreation”

The fantasies for viols

William Byrd was one of the most prolific composers during the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. Byrd, along with his contemporary Thomas Tallis, was awarded a monopoly on publishing by Queen Elizabeth I and he did not disappoint. Byrd contributed to the Cantiones Sacrae and published his own collection, Songs of Sundrie Natures, Psalmes, Songs, and Sonnets and instrumental fantasies composed for viols. His compositions make up a robust collection of works which came to define the golden age in English music. We will present fantasias in 3, 4, 5, and 6 parts.

Performers:
Dongmyung Ahn, violin
Claire Smith Bermingham, violin
Lawrence Lipnik, viola da gamba
Rosamund Morley, viola da gamba
Patricia Ann Neely, viola da gamba
Charles Reed, viola da gamba

Wednesday, May 25th at 7:30 pm

The Church of the Transfiguration
1 East 29th Street
Manhattan

Tickets:
In person ~ $20 general; $10 students & seniors

Purchase in-person tickets

Virtual ~ $5

Purchase virtual tickets

Past Concerts This Season

The Sacred and the Profane – German Baroque

Featuring countertenor Derek Lee Ragin

In 1517, Martin Luther, a young priest, nailed to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany a series of criticisms of the Catholic Church entitled, Ninety-Five Theses. Within weeks his critique of the church’s practices went “viral” and by 1518, his theses had reached the entire European continent – ushering in the Protestant Reformation and establishment of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. The church became a prominent religious institution and within the framework of the service a number of musical compositions, based on devotional texts, were included under the heading of sub communione.

We are programming vocal works from this genre including compositions by Franz Tunder, Johann Rudolf Ahle, Leopoldus I, Johann Hermann Schein, Heinrich Schütz, Samuel Scheidt, Johann Christoph Bach, and more.

Vita Wallace, violin
Claire Smith Bermingham, violin
Lawrence Lipnik, viola da gamba
Rosamund Morley, viola da gamba
Patricia Ann Neely, viola da gamba
Dongsok Shin, keyboards

Thursday, December 2 at 7:30 pm
The Church of the Transfiguration
1 East 29th Street
Manhattan

Tickets:
In person ~ $20 general; $10 students & seniors
Virtual ~ $5

Midtown Concert presents Abendmusik

Whyte's Noyse - The Fantasies of William Whyte

Thursday, February 10th at 1:15 pm

The Church of the Transfiguration
1 East 29th Street
Manhattan

Admission: Free

MORE DETAILS

Violins and Viols in Restoration England

Featuring works by Matthew Locke, Henry Purcell, Thomas Lupo, John Dowland, Robert Johnson, Thomas Simpson, Thomas Brewer, Orlando Gibbons and others.

With Vita Wallace and Claire Smith Bermingham, violins; Lawrence Lipnik and Patricia Ann Neely, violas da gamba.

Wednesday, March 23rd at 7:30 pm

The Church of the Transfiguration
1 East 29th Street
Manhattan

Tickets:
In person ~ $20 general; $10 students & seniors

Virtual ~ $5