In the History Lecture Series on Tuesday 30th September, we had the privilege to attend a lecture on the English composer William Byrd by Miss Boon. An aspect that we found particularly interesting was her discussion of the degree to which Byrd might be considered a rebel. Due to the religious context of the 16th and 17th centuries, Byrd had to maintain a balance between writing both Protestant and Catholic works, while avoiding persecution for the latter. Staff Choir’s performance of ‘Civitas Sancti Tui’, included in the collection ‘Cantiones Sacrae I’ of 1589 and dedicated to Byrd’s patron Edward Somerset, Earl of Worcester, allowed us to immerse ourselves in Tudor England and to appreciate the emotional depth of his music. This piece was something of a political commentary on the time, and it was fascinating to see how music could be both a religious and artistic expression, as well as a subtle act of resistance in such a turbulent period, reminding us that history can often be felt as well as studied. We are grateful to Miss Boon for sharing her historical expertise, and it proved to be both an inspiring and valuable revision session for the Sixth Form who study Tudor Culture. The lecture left us with a greater appreciation of how cultural figures like Byrd were shaped by, but also shaped, the world around them.

Raffi and Clara, UVI History Prefects