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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Canon • “Non Nobis Domine” (William Byrd)

Jeff Ostrowski · July 16, 2018

EVERAL READERS misunderstood my recent article which revealed a secret about the St. Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal. They thought the hymnal will contain polyphonic scores, but that’s incorrect—the Brébeuf hymnal contains 900 pages of marvelous metrical melodies in English for the congregation. There’s no room for polyphony, and that would be inappropriate for a hymnal. 1 The point I was trying to make last week is that the Brébeuf hymnal will have individual rehearsal videos for choirs who sing SATB hymns.

What do I mean by “individual” tracks?

Click on the link below (#88208) for William Byrd’s fabulous canon, Non Nobis, Dómine, and you’ll understand:

REHEARSAL VIDEOS for each individual voice and PDF score await you at #88208.


Many readers won’t click on that link—depriving themselves of the PDF score and individual tracks—which truly makes me glum.

Will you do so?

HE EXCELLENT SINGERS on this video 2 were participants in the Symposium. In terms of performance, there are many possible options. One method is to have the Highest Voice sing through the entire melody. Then add the 2nd line. Finally, add the 3rd line. By the time the 3rd line is added, the volume should be close to forte, but as the canon continues, it can eventually fade away. The canon can be sung by all women or all men—or both men & women (as shown on the PDF score). The PDF also shows that this canon was once used as “Grace before meals” for festive occasions in England.

Mozart and Beethoven greatly admired this canon. Dr. John Christopher Pepusch, in his Treatise on Harmony (1730), distinctly calls it “the famous Canon by William Byrd.”

88197 John Christopher Pepusch


…but some musicians have questioned whether William Byrd formulated this canon, and are currently in the process of attempting to prove he did not. 3



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   A serious flaw I’ve noticed in some hymnals is an attempt to contain “something for everything.” Such hymnals insufficient excerpts from the Liber Cantualis, insufficient excerpts from the Graduale Romanum, insufficient excerpts from the Missale Romanum, an insufficient quantity of congregational hymns, and end up leaving everybody unhappy. The Brébeuf hymnal avoids that by having a clearly defined focus which is desperately needed: beautiful Roman Catholic metrical hymns in English.

2   The singers were: Jacqueline Halas, Karen Furlong, Francesca Evaristo, Sarah Decker, and Sarah Halas.

3   The problem is that this canon’s melodic elements are so basic—making them difficult to trace.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Non Nobis Domine, William Byrd Canon Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Symposium Draft Schedule Released!
    Those who head over to the Symposium Website will notice the tentative schedule for 2023 has been released. This is all very exciting! Very soon, we will begin accepting applications, so please make sure you have subscribed to our mailing list. If you are subscribed, that means you'll hear announcements before anyone else. (It’s incredibly easy to subscribe to our mailing list; just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.)
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Good Friday Polyphony by L. Senfl
    The editor of the Sacred Music Magazine recently made available to the public this splendid article by our own Charles Weaver. It includes an edition of polyphony for the GOOD FRIDAY “Reproaches.” Renaissance composers often set the various offices of Holy Week; e.g. readers will probably be familiar with the beautiful TENEBRAE setting by Father Tomás Luis de Victoria (d. 1611). From what I can tell, Ludwig Senfl (d. 1543) was originally a Catholic priest, but eventually was seduced by Luther and ended up abandoning the sacred priesthood.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Coming Soon! • Symposium 2023
    A few weeks ago, dates were announced for Sacred Music Symposium 2023. The rehearsal videos are beginning to appear! For example, the KYRIE ELEYSON contains sections by Lassus, Victoria, and Palestrina. You can see and hear Part 1 at this link. Much more information about this wonderful conference will be released soon!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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It would be contrary to the Constitution to decree or even to hint that sung celebrations, especially of the Mass, should be in Latin.

— Annibale Bugnini attacking “Sacrosanctum Concilium” (§36)

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