William Byrd (1540-1623) - Motet: Domine secundum actum meum

Sir Francis Walsingham (title image) to Queen Elizabeth: "All men need something greater than them to look up to and worship. They must be able to touch the divine, here on earth". The closing image is of Elizabeth as Virgin Queen: "I am married - to England".

William Byrd

William Byrd was an English composer of the High Renaissance. Considered among the greatest composers of his time, he had a profound influence on composers, both from his native England, and those on the European continent. He is often coupled with John Dunstaple (transitional mediaeval to Early Renaissance composer) and Henry Purcell (Early Baroque period) as England's most important early music composers.

Context for the Film "Elizabeth"

Byrd's motet here was adapted for the 1998 British biographical period drama film "Elizabeth" directed by Shekhar Kapur and written by Michael Hirst. It stars Cate Blanchett in the title role of Queen Elizabeth I of England, with Geoffrey Rush as the Queen's Spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham, Christopher Eccleston as the Duke of Norfolk, Joseph Fiennes, John Gielgud, and Richard Attenborough in supporting roles. The film is based on the early years of Elizabeth's reign, where she is elevated to the throne after the death of her half-sister Mary I, who had imprisoned her. As she establishes herself on the throne, she faces plots and threats to take her down.

This piece appears in a powerful sequence in which Sir Francis Walsingham rounds up a large number of traitors at night.They comprised senior English Roman Catholic aristocrats - including the Duke of Norfolk - found to be plotting a seditious conspiracy against the Queen. Sir Francis arrests them all, effects their imprisonment and subsequent brutal torture. It was "The Night of the Long Knives" of the period.

Performance

Here we have the high tenor voice of Australia's David Hobson - displaying his finest haute-contre tessitura - accompanied by the Australian Boys Choir. All the soundtrack music was recorded in Melbourne at composer David Hirschfelder's insistence, so most of the artists (both singers and musicians) are locals, whilst soprano Kim Wheeler and the New London Consort, with director Philip Pickett, travelled from London.

Text

Latin: "Domine secundum actum meum noli me iudicare nihil dignum in conspectu tuo egi ideo deprecor maiestatem tuam ut tu Deus deleas iniquitatem meam."

English: "Lord do not judge me after my deeds; I have done nothing worthy in your eyes. Therefore I beseech You in Your majesty to deliver me from my sins."

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