The King, the Archbishop, a Spy, and the English Exiles

A programme of early music built around the trials and tribulations of English composers surviving the religious upheavals of 16th- and 17th-century England.

This programme compares the dangerous dual life of William Byrd with three composers who were forced into exile. Exploring the music of Byrd, Bull, Dering, and Philips provides an opportunity to tell stories of accusations of spying, plotting against the king, and travels around 17th-century Europe.

The Choir of Royal Holloway
Rupert Gough director