November 21

William Byrd, John Merbecke, Thomas Talliss, Henry Purcell, and Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire

Author

David Barnhart
November 21, 2025

Today is a feast day, in the Episcopal Church, for several early Church of England composers: William Byrd, John Merbecke, and Thomas Talliss. Today also marks the death, in 1695, of Henry Purcell, who was also a major contributor to sacred music. 

Today marks the death, in 1861, of French Roman Catholic priest Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire, who simultaneously advocated for separation of Church and State and for loyalty to the pope. He tried to thread the needle between emerging liberal democratic ideals in Europe and eccleisal authority. 

Reflection: 

Henry Purcell said: 

“Music and Poetry have ever been acknowledged Sisters, which walking hand in hand support each other; As poetry is the harmony of words, so music is that of notes; and as poetry is a rise above prose and oratory, so is music the exaltation of poetry. Both of them may excel apart, but sure they are most excellent when they are joined, because nothing is then wanting to either of their perfections.”

Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire said: 

"I hope to die a penitent religious man and an unrepentant liberal."

and

"It is not genius, nor glory, nor love that reflects the greatness of the human soul; it is kindness."

Prayer: God, may we aspire to the kind of greatness that only comes through kindness. Amen.