Freddie James - William Byrd in Italy An Imagined Journey (2026) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Praeludium & Fantasia, FVB 100, 52: I. Praeludium to ye Fancie
02. Praeludium & Fantasia, FVB 100, 52: II. Fantasia
03. Toccate e partite d'intavolatura, Libro 1: Corrente Seconda, F 2.18
04. Qui passe for my Lady Nevell, MB 19
05. Recercada per b quadro del primo tono
06. A Fancie, BK 46
07. Gentil Madonna (Dublin Virginal Manuscript)
08. Toccate e partite d'intavolatura, Libro 2: Gagliarda prima, F 3.27
09. Dublin Virginal Manuscript: Dance on G
10. Dublin Virginal Manuscript: Dance on C
11. Coranto, MB 45
12. Saltarello (Castell'Arquato, Archivio della Chiesa collegiata)
13. Ut re mi fa sol la, MB 64
14. Il primo libro di toccate d’intavolatura Balletto e Ciaccona on G, F 2.32
15. Capricci: No. 1, Capriccio sopra Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, F 4.01
16. Intabolature Nova di Balli: Passamezzo antico 1-3
17. The Nynth Pavian and Galliarde, the Passinge Mesures, BK 2: I. Pavian (I. Pavian)
18. The Nynth Pavian and Galliarde, the Passinge Mesures, BK 2: II. The Galliarde

Far from being an insular figure, William Byrd was in touch with European, especially Italian musical currents. This programme presents England’s greatest Renaissance composer through an Italian prism, placing his keyboard works alongside Italian music he might have known, been influenced by, or influenced. Works by Claudio Veggio, Girolamo Frescobaldi, and dances from Italian and English sources shed light on Byrd’s fantasias, pavans, galliards and variation sets, works which display a striking mixture of learned counterpoint, harmonic daring, keyboard virtuosity and irrepressible dance energy. Performed on historic Italian instruments, the Venetian Renaissance organ in Valvasone and a harpsichord after Alessandro Trasuntino, Byrd’s music appears not as that of an isolated English master, but rather in lively dialogue with the wider European, especially Italian Renaissance.