Compel the Hawk to sit

William Byrd, a towering figure of the English Renaissance, composed this secular setting for ATTBB voices. The text explores the futility of trying to force affection or loyalty, comparing it to trying to make a hawk sit when it's untamed, a hound hunt without training, or forcing a free person into bondage. The lyrics poetically state that love cannot be compelled; it only thrives when freely given and reciprocated by those who feel genuine affection. Byrd masterfully captures the Renaissance sensibility and the intricate vocal writing characteristic of the era in this compelling English partsong.