Lavishly produced, the 1575 Cantiones, quae ab argumento sacrae vocantur by Byrd and Tallis celebrated not only the composers’ acquisition of the royal patent for the printing and marketing of part-music and lined music paper, but also their mastery of the continental polyphonic style. Though the edition was only moderately successful, a number of Byrd’s 17 motets in 5 and 6 parts survived in manuscript sources until the Commonwealth period. Three motets were also adapted to English words.

• Aspice Domine quai facta est (SSAATB)
• Attollite portas (SSAATB)
• Da mihi auxilium (SAATTB)
• Diliges Dominum (SSAATTBB)
• Domine secundum actum meum (SAATTB)
• Emendemus in melius (SATTB)
• Gloria Patri (SSATTB)
• Laudate pueri Dominum (SAATBB)
• Libera me Domine de morta aeterna (SAATB)
• Libera me Domine et pone me (SAATB)
• Memento homo (SAATTB)
• Miserere mihi Domine (SAATTB)
• O lux beata Trinitas (SSAATB)
• Peccantem me quotidie (SATTB)
• Siderum rector (SSATB)
• Te dep...