The Cross of Joy
by William Byrd
4-Part - Sheet Music

SATB choir, organ

SKU: C5.7010

Composed by William Byrd. Arranged by Raymond Clark. Text: Graduale Romanum. Trio of Byrd motets. General, Easter. Octavo. Published by CanticaNOVA Publications (C5.7010).

Using the great music from Wiliam Byrd's Gradualia, the arranger Raymond Clark presents a "trio" of motets which can be used singly or together. Each individual item gives us the Alleluia and Gospel Verse for these three celebrations, with text from the Graduale Romanum: 1. Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross / 2. Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King / 3. Third Sunday of Eastertide. The contrapuntal SATB Alleluia precedes and follows the verse text, which is set in both faux bourdon style and in polyphony. None of the music is overly difficult, nor are the ranges extreme. Because of this, and given the duplication of the first and third section, this would be an ideal piece to introduce your choir to the wonderful style of European liturgical music, particularly as might be sung at the Vatican. All this makes this piece both a good solid motet and a useful pedagogical tool!