William Byrd’s output is notable chiefly for the variety of its genres and structural principles. This is particularly evident in his unique keyboard music. The influence that Byrd also had on the development of continental keyboard music remains remarkable. To commemorate the 400th anniversary of Byrd’s death, this album presents a special collection of his music, together with works by two of his close contemporaries: his long-time mentor Thomas Tallis (c. 1505–1585) and the younger Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625).

Friederike Chylek here follows up on her previous albums of Byrd’s music: Byrd – Keyboard Works (OC1724); From Byrd to Byrd (OC1704); and Time stands still (OC1864). Friederike Chylek plays on an organ built by Johann Christoph Leu, Klosterkirche Rheinau in 1715 and on a 1699 harpsichord by Boccalari, Napoli, restored by Matthias Griewisch in 2019.