Gordon Jacob

William Byrd Suite Gordon Jacob

Of all of Gordon Jacob's major contributions to the British wind band repertoire, the William Byrd Suite (written in 1923) stands as his most-often programmed work. Though originally based on six movements from William Byrd's Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, this setting for developing band incorporates two contrasting movements including The Earle of Oxford's Marche and Wolsey's Wilde. Like Jacob's wind band work, the music is not a mere transcription from the original keyboard collection, but rather stylized with his own inventive musical spirit for modern concert band. A wealth of material here that opens doors to teachable moments as musical textures---dynamic contrasts, articulations, scoring options---are continually changing. Bravo! (2:33)
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