Composition - - American Recorder Society
Fantasia No. 1 a4
By William Byrd (1540 - 1623)
 Arranged By Peter Seibert 2022
 
S A T B
 
 
Byrd’s fantasias were originally written for viol (viola da gamba) consorts. This four-part transcription for SATB recorders contains several mini-movements, marked by rehearsal letters that indicate the dividing point between sections. Byrd takes us through several tonal centers en route to a firm cadence in C major at rehearsal letter D.  But immediately, there are some declamatory chords that take us toward A minor. Note that the final section contains some canonic material in which the imitative voice follows just a quarter note behind the leading voice.  The polyphony piles up near the end with a resounding finish in A major.
-- Peter Seibert
 
 
 
No. of Recorder Parts:
4
Difficulty:
Moderate
Occasion:
Any
Libraries:
Arrangements and Transcriptions
Date Added:
10/24/2022
Style:
Renaissance/Baroque/Classical