Jeremy Smith teaches a class in Imig
It was a book 30 years in the making. A concentrated look at the songs of English Renaissance composer William Byrd.
The music hasn鈥檛 changed since the 1500s. But the study of music has evolved into something entirely different in just the past quarter century.
That was the context Professor of Musicology Jeremy Smith brought with him when a conference of Byrd scholars selected him to write his book, Verse and Voice in Byrd's Song Collections of 1588 and 1589.
鈥淭his is a book people have been anticipating for decades,鈥� says Smith. 鈥淎nd there was a notion that it would be structured the same way as its two predecessors, but I took a different approach.鈥�
In the 1970s, the first two volumes of what was originally conceived as the definitive trilogy on Byrd鈥檚 works gave readers an in-depth study of his musical style. Focusing on his motets and instrumental works, the books were meant to be accompanied by a third, similar treatment of his English-texted songs and anthems.
But Smith, who specializes in English Renaissance music and modern progressive rock, took a more interdisciplinary approach.
鈥淚 was much more interested in the political situation during Byrd鈥檚 time and the meaning of the words in the songs as well as the music.鈥�
Having already edited many of Byrd鈥檚 songs for another publication, Smith was familiar with the music of the composer鈥檚 two songbooks. It wasn鈥檛 until he started digging in for this project that common, often controversial themes began to emerge.
鈥淗e told a story with the songs, similar to Shakespeare鈥檚 sonnet cycles,鈥� Smith explains. 鈥淭here were Old Testament and New Testament stories and some secular ideas as well.鈥�
Byrd was a practicing Catholic at a time when most of his compatriots belonged to the Protestant Church of England. Smith suspects he was using his songs as a form of protest.
鈥淏ecause people haven鈥檛 looked at Byrd in this context before, considering contemporary literature, religion and art, they wouldn鈥檛 see the ways he was weaving these ideas into stories.鈥�
Knowing his own book about Byrd鈥檚 controversial works could itself be considered controversial among his peers, Smith says the research process was often filled with anxiety.
鈥淚t was scary. Once I saw the story begin to emerge, I began to fear that I would find something that would prove my theory wrong,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f I came to a song with a narrative element that didn鈥檛 seem to fit, I got worried. But those songs only served to give more depth to what Byrd was saying.鈥�
Though much of his focus has been on the themes, Smith鈥攈imself a pianist and rock musician鈥攕ays his research has given him even more appreciation for the musicality of Byrd鈥檚 songbooks.
鈥淚 grew to love the songs so much more than I did before, which was very rewarding.鈥�
As he continues to search for implications in the songs, Smith says he鈥檒l use his learning process as a teaching tool for his students. 鈥淚n order to find something new, you have be an expert on what鈥檚 already known. You can鈥檛 have a breakthrough unless you know what鈥檚 already there.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檒l always bring my students along for the ride. None of my discoveries could have happened without their involvement.鈥�
Smith鈥檚 book, Verse and Voice in Byrd's Song Collections of 1588 and 1589, is available on Amazon.
