A lecture-recital by Prof. David J. Smith on early English keyboard music, using the E J Johnson chamber organ in St Bride’s Episcopal Church.

William Byrd’s anniversary in 2023 was a great opportunity to reassess his keyboard music as it relates to the organ. We will explore which pieces are best suited to the organ (all of them!), what the fingerings in the manuscript sources of this repertoire tell us about how to play early English keyboard music, and how we can go about interpreting the mysterious single- and double-stroke ornament signs. Byrd composed music for players of all levels of ability, so come along to find out more!

David J. Smith was Head of Music and Master of Chapel and Ceremonial Music at the University of Aberdeen before becoming the Founding Head of Music at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne. He specialises in early English keyboard music and improvisation, and his edition of the complete keyboard music of Peter Philips (one of Byrd’s students) appears in the scholarly series, Musica Britannica.