Come and Sing Byrd’s Great Service
Petros Singers are delighted to join forces with Toby Ward (conductor of Ensemble Pro Victoria) for a come-and-sing workshop exploring the rich world of William Byrd’s Great Service. Composed around 1597–1604, this pinnacle of Elizabethan music is noted for its immense scale and lavish, dramatic styling designed for the Chapel Royal.
Written for ten-part double choir, the Great Service is an Anglican curio amidst the output of Byrd, himself a devoted Catholic. Partly, this is because Byrd never published the work: it remained undiscovered until 1922, when it was unearthed among a bundle of miscellaneous partbooks in Durham Cathedral Library.
Musically, however, the Great Service differs so vastly in ambition and sophistication – not only from Byrd’s other Anglican liturgical settings, but also from his Catholic music – that scholars have speculated about its provenance ever since. Was it written as an elaborate resignation from the Chapel Royal benches? Was it an overzealous Anglican apology after Byrd had been implicated in a Catholic cover-up? Or was it a piece so close to Byrd’s heart that he could not bear to publish it?
Whatever the answer, this music represents the high-water mark of Byrd’s oeuvre and offers singers immense rewards. During the workshop, Toby will lead us through a selection of movements while placing Byrd’s work in context, introducing both Anglican and Catholic pieces from across his career.
We look forward to welcoming you on Saturday 17th October for what promises to be an inspiring and uplifting afternoon of music-making.
Toby Ward read Music at King’s College, Cambridge, specialising in early music and continuo performance, while holding a choral scholarship with the renowned King’s College Choir under Sir Stephen Cleobury. During this time, he toured internationally, performed regularly on BBC radio and television and sang major solo roles in the annual Carols from King’s broadcasts. He subsequently undertook postgraduate vocal studies with Alison Wells at the Royal College of Music.
As a conductor, Toby has directed live on BBC Radio 3 with Ensemble Pro Victoria and has appeared at festivals including the London International Festival of Early Music and the Cambridge Early Music Festival. He is also in demand as a guest conductor, répétiteur, vocal coach, and continuo player across London.
Looking ahead to Saturday 20th March 2027, Petros Singers will be joined by Ensemble Pro Victoria to perform Byrd’s Great Service, alongside other anthems and motets, at Holy Sepulchre London, also known as the National Musicians’ Church.
Workshop timetable
Registration is from 1:30pm. The workshop will run from 2:00–6:00pm with a break for tea-time refreshments, which are included in the ticket price. Please bring a reusable cup if you can, and also your own bottle of water.
Voice parts
Please select your preferred voice part when booking your ticket. If you are booking more than one ticket, give the name of the other singer(s) in the ‘add message’ box of the booking form. Whilst we hope to give everyone their preferred part, depending on numbers we may ask you to sing the other part in your chosen voice (e.g. a Sop 1 might have to sing Sop 2). We will advise you of this when we receive your booking.
Scores
Downloadable scores, for self-printing or use on a tablet, are included in the tickets price and will be sent out in advance of the workshop. If you are unable to print out the PDF we can do this for you at a cost of £5. Your score will be available for collection at the workshop. Select ‘Buy printed score’ in the booking form below and the cost will be added to your ticket price. Please note that we will only provide printed scores on the day for those who have bought them in advance.
Getting there
St Peter’s is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Ravenscourt Park and Stamford Brook underground stations (District line) or a 20-minute walk from Hammersmith (District, Piccadilly and Hammersmith & City lines). We advise checking with TfL in advance in case of any line works. There are also several buses that run between Hammersmith and Chiswick (Goldhawk Road stop), and some free street parking in the surrounding area.
Tickets
£28 | £18 age 16 to 30
Printed scores: £5
All tickets must be booked in advance
Refreshments included
Enquiries should be sent to tickets@petrossingers.org
Written for ten-part double choir, the Great Service is an Anglican curio amidst the output of Byrd, himself a devoted Catholic. Partly, this is because Byrd never published the work: it remained undiscovered until 1922, when it was unearthed among a bundle of miscellaneous partbooks in Durham Cathedral Library.
Musically, however, the Great Service differs so vastly in ambition and sophistication – not only from Byrd’s other Anglican liturgical settings, but also from his Catholic music – that scholars have speculated about its provenance ever since. Was it written as an elaborate resignation from the Chapel Royal benches? Was it an overzealous Anglican apology after Byrd had been implicated in a Catholic cover-up? Or was it a piece so close to Byrd’s heart that he could not bear to publish it?
Whatever the answer, this music represents the high-water mark of Byrd’s oeuvre and offers singers immense rewards. During the workshop, Toby will lead us through a selection of movements while placing Byrd’s work in context, introducing both Anglican and Catholic pieces from across his career.
We look forward to welcoming you on Saturday 17th October for what promises to be an inspiring and uplifting afternoon of music-making.
Toby Ward read Music at King’s College, Cambridge, specialising in early music and continuo performance, while holding a choral scholarship with the renowned King’s College Choir under Sir Stephen Cleobury. During this time, he toured internationally, performed regularly on BBC radio and television and sang major solo roles in the annual Carols from King’s broadcasts. He subsequently undertook postgraduate vocal studies with Alison Wells at the Royal College of Music.
As a conductor, Toby has directed live on BBC Radio 3 with Ensemble Pro Victoria and has appeared at festivals including the London International Festival of Early Music and the Cambridge Early Music Festival. He is also in demand as a guest conductor, répétiteur, vocal coach, and continuo player across London.
Looking ahead to Saturday 20th March 2027, Petros Singers will be joined by Ensemble Pro Victoria to perform Byrd’s Great Service, alongside other anthems and motets, at Holy Sepulchre London, also known as the National Musicians’ Church.
Workshop timetable
Registration is from 1:30pm. The workshop will run from 2:00–6:00pm with a break for tea-time refreshments, which are included in the ticket price. Please bring a reusable cup if you can, and also your own bottle of water.
Voice parts
Please select your preferred voice part when booking your ticket. If you are booking more than one ticket, give the name of the other singer(s) in the ‘add message’ box of the booking form. Whilst we hope to give everyone their preferred part, depending on numbers we may ask you to sing the other part in your chosen voice (e.g. a Sop 1 might have to sing Sop 2). We will advise you of this when we receive your booking.
Scores
Downloadable scores, for self-printing or use on a tablet, are included in the tickets price and will be sent out in advance of the workshop. If you are unable to print out the PDF we can do this for you at a cost of £5. Your score will be available for collection at the workshop. Select ‘Buy printed score’ in the booking form below and the cost will be added to your ticket price. Please note that we will only provide printed scores on the day for those who have bought them in advance.
Getting there
St Peter’s is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Ravenscourt Park and Stamford Brook underground stations (District line) or a 20-minute walk from Hammersmith (District, Piccadilly and Hammersmith & City lines). We advise checking with TfL in advance in case of any line works. There are also several buses that run between Hammersmith and Chiswick (Goldhawk Road stop), and some free street parking in the surrounding area.
Tickets
£28 | £18 age 16 to 30
Printed scores: £5
All tickets must be booked in advance
Refreshments included
Enquiries should be sent to tickets@petrossingers.org