Come and Sing Byrd's Great Service

St Peter's Church, Hammersmith, London, Great Britain

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Select date and time

2 PM

Important Info

Type: Classical Concert

City: London, Great Britain

Starts at: 14:00

Duration:

Ticket delivery: E-Tickets

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

Can I choose my seats?

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Programme

Overview

Join Petros Singers and Renaissance specialist Toby Ward for an unforgettable come-and-sing workshop diving into William Byrd's Great Service. Explore the full, ten-part double-choir splendor of this Elizabethan masterpiece in a single inspiring afternoon. All levels of choral singers welcome.Petros Singers invites choral enthusiasts and early-music aficionados to a rare come-and-sing workshop exploring William Byrd's Great Service – widely regarded as the pinnacle of English Renaissance vocal writing. Composed in the late 1580s for a ten-part double choir of the Chapel Royal, this monumental setting dazzles with its intricate polyphony, dramatic contrasts and sumptuous textures. Unpublished in Byrd's lifetime and only rediscovered in 1922 among Durham Cathedral's partbooks, the Great Service remains an enigmatic masterpiece that continues to intrigue scholars and challenge singers. Under the expert direction of Toby Ward – Renaissance specialist, co-founder of Ensemble Pro Victoria and alumnus of the King's College Choir – participants will rehearse selected movements, gaining insight into Byrd's liturgical innovations and stylistic versatility alongside complementary Anglican and Catholic works. Whether you have years of choral experience or cherish the purity of Renaissance harmony, you will relish the technical demands and spiritual breadth of this service. The workshop runs from 2:00–6:00pm on Saturday 17 October (registration from 1:30pm) and includes a break for tea and refreshments.

Venue Info