Sing Joyfully Unto God (Fall 2011)

Anthology Number: 46

Anthology Page: 241-249

CD Track: 14-18

Basic Information

 * Species: Full Anthem
 * National or other Origin: England
 * Date / era: 1580s-90s
 * Composer or other figure: William Byrd

Identifying Characteristics:

 * Text is English translation from the original Hebrew Psalm 81.
 * 6 part polyphony for 6 soloists
 * Liturgical in the Protestant (Church of England) tradition.
 * Frequent leaps, especially in the bass.
 * Homophony is rare, quite syllabic.
 * Frequent cadences.
 * At cadences, the bass leaps up a fourth or down a fifth, the precursor to a dominant-tonic cadence.
 * Ionian mode; may have been transposed up a minor third.
 * Angular and energetic
 * Music reflects meaning of text. eg. the fanfare-sounding "Blow the trumpet in the new moon" section.
 * Stressed syllables often land on strong beats

Additional Information:
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 * Some editions have organ accompaniment, probably by a different composer.
 * Would have been sung by a full choir.