Celebrating the 400-year legacy of composer William Byrd, one was transported back to the 16^th century, where Catholicism was outlawed and where masses were sung in privacy to avoid prosecution. We heard Byrd’s amazing Mass for 5 Voices sung as he intended – around a candle-lit dinner table with friends. I love this sort of polyphonic music, but this version in its theatrical context nearly blew my mind. Phrasing, balance, diction and expression were all out of the top drawer.

One was invited to move about the church and drink in its atmosphere but I stayed put, not wishing to miss anything. Anyway, I was in touching distance of the singers and such close proximity merely accentuated the magic of the performance. Audience participation included sitting with the singers as they re-enacted a typical meal in these times, bread and wine accompanied by sections of the Mass.

The parts of the Mass were interspersed with other music by Byrd, played impeccably by the viols of Fretwork, and as the evening drew to a close, the Six added a quite incredible and moving performance of the Elegy on the Death of Thomas Tallis, Byrd’s mentor and one of the greats of renaissance music.

I don’t think I’ve witnessed such a performance, and many, many thanks should go to Bill Barclay for its inception and to the performers for bringing an uncanny realism to the performance. Next time I hear the music of Byrd – and that is likely very soon – I’ll think back to this evening. It left a huge impression on me, as I’m sure it did to others in the audience.