William Bryd (1543 – 1623) was England’s most notable composer of the late Renaissance. His works include a vast amount of vocal music, for which he is best known, including masses, motets and polyphonic songs, in addition to music written for keyboard and instrumental consorts. His early career included study under Thomas Tallis in London.
A Catholic during a Protestent period of England’s history, Bryd’s Latin liturgical music wasn’t widely performed in public, yet he published hundreds of motets. They were surely sung in private worship services in which Catholics met in secret. Bryd’s vocal music is so satisfying largely because of his brilliance in composing music that brings the text to life. In this motet, Gaudeamus omnes, from the Gradualia of 1605, he uses spirited rhythms, playful counterpoint and joyous ascending melodies to envision the singing of angels as they celebrate the Feast of All Saints holiday.
This motet, Visita, quaesumus Domine, asks the blessing of everlasting peace. Byrd’s decision to use two soprano voices, alto and tenor, suggests celestial – not earthly – voices, and the music anticipates a state of unending heavenly bliss through beautiful and harmonious polyphony which evolves gracefully from beginning to end. The tranquility of the final amen cadence beckons towards infinity rather than finality.
Scott Hartman began his chamber music career as a member of the Empire Brass. While with the Empire Brass (1984 – 1993), he played concerts throughout the United States, Japan and Europe. He recorded fourteen compact discs and appeared on numerous television and radio broadcasts. Scott has built a career also as a trombone soloist, performing frequently in the U.S. and abroad. Solo engagements with orchestra include concerts with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra under Eric Kunzel. Scott has recorded with Joseph Alessi, Blair Bollinger, and Mark Lawrence on a CD entitled Four of a Kind and with Frank Tamburro on The Festive Cornet. He teaches at Yale University and publishes brass music through Firebird Editions. He plays a S.E. Shires Hartman Model tenor trombone.
