Consort Songs

The consort song was a genre that Byrd explored without serious disciples or artistic rivals in his time. Even so, his example in this form exercised a profound influence on later generations through its offshoot, the verse anthem. 41 songs are here grouped into four sections: Psalms and spiritual songs; moral songs and ‘sonnets’; elegies; and later songs. Eight more doubtful or spurious compositions are contained in an appendix.