William Byrd, (c.1540s-1623) Beata Virgo, arr. Harmer (SATB)

William Byrd was an English composer of the late Renaissance era. He was proficient in both sacred and secular forms. Sometime around the 1570s, Byrd converted from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism. Beata Virgo is the second part of a Christmas Motet, “O Magnum Mysterium.” The text translates to: “Blessed Virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear our Lord Christ. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.”

The full score can be found on imslp here: http://ks4.imslp.net/files/imglnks/usimg/e/ef/IMSLP115597-WIMA.cc57-Byrd-Beata.pdf