The renaissance English composer William Byrd (1543-1623) wrote a set of six variations on the tripla melody Callino Casturame. It is one of the few variations sets not included in Byrd's 1591 My Lady Nevell's Book, but it dates from around the same period.

This is a very succinct piece. Byrd deliberately restricts technical devices and concentrates on minute detail, similar to his work on The Bells. The melody and bass are very simple, and the texture very sparse and the melody varies only slowly. This combination draws listener's attention to the changes by virtue of their isolation. The result is a masterful piece of writing often overlooked for Byrd's flashier works.



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