| Remarks: |
Though the text of this motet is found neither in scripture
or liturgy, it speaks eloquently of the exile mood of
Lent:
"Lord, remember the covenant
you made with our fathers
and deliver us from the hand of Pharaoh,
king of Egypt." A note on an 18th century manuscript copy indicates, “this
piece, in the opinion of Mr. Byrd himself, is the best
he ever composed.” The musical rhetoric
is shot through with unusual harmonic progressions born
out of the opening motive that circles chromatically
above and below the keynote. |
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View Sample Score |
