William Byrd (?1543-1623) learned his art from Thomas Tallis and became one of the most successful of the Tudor composers. He worked as Organist and Master of the Choristers at Lincoln Cathedral between 1563 and 1570 before moving to London to become a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal following the accidental death of Robert Parsons. Byrd’s six-part anthem Praise our Lord, all ye Gentiles from the 1611 collection of Psalms, Songs and Sonnets. Here the vigorous rhythmic opening is replaced by gentler melodic outlines at the words ‘because his mercy is confirmed upon us’. This, in turn, gives way to new figures, both for ‘And his truth remaineth forever’ and for the lengthy and dramatic ‘Amen’.

Anton Bruckner (1824–1896), Locus iste  Bruckner is today best remembered for his gargantuan symphonies, but he worked as an organist and choir director all his life.  Today’s anthem is a short piece celebrating the dedication of a church; it was written in 1869 for the dedication of a new chapel at the cathedral in Linz.