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Gradualia (Logistics and publishing (2 books, published 1605 and 1607. The…
Gradualia
Logistics and publishing
2 books, published 1605 and 1607. The first release was just before the gunpowder plot was discovered, and this had an effect on sales, as James cracked down on Catholicism in England. It also delayed the publication of the second part, Byrd writes to Lord Petre in 1607 that the 2nd book had been 'long since completed by me and committed to the press'; Petre provided Byrd with a loan to assist in the publishing of the second book.
1st book - 63 numbered items. 2nd book - 46 numbered items. Large part of Gradualia is settings of Propers and other feast day texts. Cycles like this had also been composed by Lassus, Palestrina, Sheppard and Tallis.
Book 1 laid out according to the number of voices, and numbered separately in each grouping. It opens with 25 Marian Masses and Votive Masses - clearly Catholic. All of which conform to Byrd's modular system and are in D minor with one flat in the key signature, allowing for an easy transition between modules. This is the same in all of Book 1.
The Purification Mass shows his modular approach, it is pieced together by a series of modules from his liturgical settings to provide the required mass. The contents of the mass changes depending on its placement to Septuagesima (3rd sunday before lent). If its after there are no Alleluias. and instead Tract 4.
Book II is laid out depending on their feasts in chronological order. The Masses are celebratory in nature - dense melismatic texture and high number of voices.
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While McCarthy suggests that practical complications around using the book led to it only being understood in the 20th century, Tom Czepiel describes this as 'bollocks'. However, McCarthy notes that the more emotive musical sections of the Gradualia were mined out an performed as stand along pieces, ignoring Byrd's liturgical instructions.
Musical Examples
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Set apart from other settings through its 6 point scoring. Implicit commemoration of Peter as the first Pope. Such overt-Catholocis cased suspicion and much of the text was censored and published with large sections of music without text.
6 part texture allows Byrd to indulge in complex imitation (unusual for English music), treatment of dissonance, and word painting (music mirroring the text).
e.g. Byrd, in 'Tu es Petrus' , Byrd sets the line 'upon this rock I will build my church' to a 'towering edifice of rising and falling melodies over long-held notes in the bass' (McCarthy) The music then goes through a tradition series of hexachords, G, F and C - the ancient 'claves' associated with St. Peter. This could also be a reference to John Petre, as rock is 'Petre' in Latin - Petre funded his publishing of the second book. (McCarthy)
'Ave verum' - uses false relations from F# to F on the word 'verum' in order to emphasise the truth of transubstantiation. 'Miserere mei' is repeated at the end, 'mei' is a more focussed private devotion than the more normal 'miserere nostri' - me rather than us.
Purpose
The listener is invited to re-imagine the experience of the event, although it is now clandestine, it is a reflection and meditation upon the Catholic mood of the time. It is for private devotion within recusant Catholic homes.
To reflect upon the words which he sets. The text is concerned with death, it is in many ways Byrd's final bow to the recusant community:
'In the words themselves there is such obscure and hidden power'
Preface to Gradualia I.
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There is a restrained musical focus, not too complex, and a focus on death - shows a more spiritual approach, it is not to be enjoyed but to be meditated upon along with the words (which were more important to Byrd).
Contemporary works
L'Orfeo by Monteverdi is premiered this year, as is King Lear by Shakespeare. Byrd's Catholicism is becoming outdated, why would anyone bring up a Catholic child in such an anti-Catholic country? Music has moved on. The Gradualia is both Byrd's swan song and homage, whilst also serving as a retrospective and reflective setting for the recusant community.