The English composer, William Byrd (1543-1623) probably wrote his second 6-voice Fantasia in g in the 1580s, apparently soon after he had completed the first 6-voice Fantasia in g. Unsatisfied with the writing in his earlier composition, he evidently wrote the second in a successful attempt to improve upon the first.

His second assay into this genre bears many similarities to his first. The first section and last section (the galliard) still contain, for a consort work, varied writing. In comparison with his earlier fantasia, however, this variation is less extreme. The middle section is in tripla, meaning that each section is very clearly deliniated. The galliard section is more incorporated into the main body of the work than the first fantasia, and is also for six voices, unlike the no.1.

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