William Byrd's vocal works would have assured him a place in history as the greatest English composer of his generation. Yet he was also the outstanding composer of his time in the realm of instrumental music - indeed, probably the first musician to achieve supreme stature simultaneously in music for voices, for instrumental consort, and for solo keyboard instrument. 

In the hands of Pieter-Jan Belder, whose experience in the field of 17th-century keyboard music is almost unrivaled, these songs and dances and themes and variations seem to develop and unfold as naturally as a tree buds and spreads. Only one recording of Byrd’s complete music for keyboards has been made before now, and it is now unavailable, leaving this new recording by Pieter-Jan Belder in magnificent solitude. The collection begins with two discs of pieces for organ, played on a trio of Dutch instruments chosen for their varied colours and sizes. CD3 and 4 contains the pieces to be found in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, of which Belder made the first ever complete recording for Brilliant Classics. The last three discs are dedicated to My Lady Nevells Booke, the beautifully preserved collection which most comprehensively preserves his contribution to keyboard literature.

CONTENTS:

• Byrd: John come kiss me now
• Byrd: Pavan MB16a
• Byrd: Galiard MB16b
• Byrd: Pavana, BK 60a 'Ph. Tr.'
• Byrd: Galliard, BK 60b
• Byrd: Lady Monteagle's Pavan
• Byrd: A Ground, BK9
• Byrd: The Queen's Alman
• Byrd: If My Complaints
• Byrd: Pavana "The Earle of Salisbury"
• Byrd: Galliards, BK15b / c
• Byrd: Susanna fair
• Byrd: An Alman, BK117
• Byrd: Echo Pavan and Galliard in G major, No. 5
• Byrd: Pavan, BK76
• Byrd: Galliard, BK77
• Byrd: The Bells
• Byrd: Robbin Hood, MBV63
• Byrd: Pavan & Galliard, BK100
• Byrd: A Praeludium, BK116
• Byrd: Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, BK58
• Byrd: Three French Corantos
• Byrd: O quam gloriosum est regnum
• Byrd: ….Secunda pars, BK120
• Byrd: Go from my window, BK79
• Byrd: A Horne Pype, BK39
• Byrd: Pavana Lachrymæ
• Byrd: Galiarda, BK55 (Harding set by Byrd)
• Byrd: Paven, BK73a
• Byrd: Galiard, BK73b
• Byrd: A Grounde, BK43
• Byrd: A Pavion, BK23a
• Byrd: Galliard, BK23b
• Byrd: A fancy
• Byrd: If My Complaints
• Byrd: Pavan, BK33a
• Byrd: Galliard, BK33b
• Byrd: Care for thy Soule, MBLV52
• Byrd: Galliard in C major 'Mistress Mary Brownlow'
• Byrd: Paven, BK72a
• Byrd: Galliard, BK72b
• Byrd: Parludam, BK115
• Byrd: A Ground, BK86
• Byrd: Lavolta, MB91
• Byrd: Pavan, BK99a
• Byrd: Galliard, BK99c
• Byrd: Quadran Pavan, MB70a
• Byrd: The Quadran Galliard, MB70b
• Byrd: The Hunt's up
• Byrd: Pavana, BK4a
• Byrd: Galliarda, BK4b
• Byrd: Prelude in A minor
• Byrd: Fantasia, BK13
• Byrd: Pavan in D BK52a
• Byrd: Galliard in D Minor, MB52b
• Byrd: Fantasia in G major
• Byrd: Wolsey's Wilde
• Byrd: Ut mi re, BK65
• Byrd: O Mistrys Myne
• Byrd: The Ghost
• Byrd: Sir John Gray’s Galliard
• Byrd: Gypsies Round
• Byrd: Monsieur´s Alman
• Byrd: Malt’s come down
• Byrd: A Medley
• Byrd: Pavana Delight
• Byrd: Galliarda [Delight], BK5b
• Byrd: Miserere a3
• Byrd: Miserere a4
• Byrd: Callino casturame
• Byrd: Pavan Bray, BK59a
• Byrd: Gailliard Bray
• Byrd: Doctor Bulls my selfe - A Gigge
• Byrd: Prelude, MB24
• Byrd: Galliarda [Bray], BK59b
• Byrd: A Gigg, BK22
• Byrd: Prelude, MB24
• Byrd: Pavan, BK101
• Byrd: Corranto
• Byrd: Fortune, BK6
• Byrd: Alman, BK11
• Byrd: Galliard, BK53
• Byrd: Monsieur´s Alman
• Byrd: Alman, BK89
• Byrd: La Volta
• Byrd: In Nomine, BK51
• Byrd: Prelude, MB1
• Byrd: Fantasia MB63
• Byrd: Christe qui Lux
• Byrd: Fantasia, MBLV55
• Byrd: In Nomine, BK51
• Byrd: Ut re mi fa sol la
• Byrd: Gloria tibi Trinitas
• Byrd: A Ground, BK9
• Byrd: Prelude & Fantasia in A Minor, BK12&13
• Byrd: The Queen's Alman
• Byrd: Voluntary for my Lady Nevell
• Byrd: Pavan Lachrymae, BK54
• Byrd: Fantasia MB62
• Byrd: Fantasia 'A Lesson of Voluntaire'
• Byrd: Miserere (I), BK66
• Byrd: Miserere (II), BK67
• Byrd: Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, BK58
• Byrd: Ut re mi fa sol la
• Byrd: A Verse of Two Parts
• Byrd: A Fancie in D minor, BK46
• Byrd: Salvator Mundi, BK68
• Byrd: Salvator Mundi, BK69
• Byrd: A Voluntary, BK27
• Byrd: Clarifica me, BK47
• Byrd: Clarifica me, BK48
• Byrd: Clarifica me, BK49
• Byrd: Prelude and Fantasia in C major, BK24&25
• Byrd: My Ladye Nevells Booke