This year marks the 400th anniversary of the death of English Tudor composer William Byrd. On Saturday, 25th November in All Saints, Woodham, The Octavian Singers will commemorate this milestone by performing his Mass for 4 Voices, as well as some other favourite anthems by him.

Although a staunch Roman Catholic, Byrd was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, and avoided most of the controversies surrounding others of his faith during the Reformation. He was even awarded the privilege of a monopoly on printing music in 1575, alongside his friend and colleague Thomas Tallis. Our concert will also include a selection of anthems by Tallis, alongside the first set of his Lamentations of Jeremiah - a particularly poignant text in our own politically turbulent times.

The presentation of our concert is inspired by the format of a church service, with anthems interwoven between the sections of the Mass, and will last about an hour with no interval. Refreshments will be served afterwards.