William Byrd was a Roman Catholic composer at a time in English history when to profess Catholicism was to risk one’s life; luckily for him, he enjoyed the protection of Queen Elizabeth I, who recognized his genius and loved his music. Nevertheless, the music he wrote for Catholic Masses couldn’t be performed in the chapels of his time, and he never would have heard these Mass settings sung the way they are today. Which is a terrible shame — especially considering the glorious sounds now produced by choirs like that of London’s Catholic Westminster Cathedral.

– Rick Anderson