Wow, you are one of the rare ones that want to learn Renaissance keyboard music.
The easiest and quickest way to go about it is to explore edited collections of early music. Some examples:
1. Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, you can find that on imslp. Published by Dover. Contains some pieces by Byrd and many others.
2. Anthology of Baroque Keyboard Music, published by Alfred. Has some early keyboard music as well. Has suggested ornament realization.
3. Collection of pieces of individual composers, like Pachelbel (Dover), Froberger (Peters ?, I forgot), etc.
4. To learn more about ornamentation:
i. check out some books, such as Companion to Medieval and Renaissance Music, edited Knighton (great book for you); Performers Guide to Music of the Baroque Period, ABRSM; Ornamentation in Baroque and post-Baroque by Newmann; Grove Dictionary of Music.
ii. articles on-line. Do some search.
iii. recordings, preferably harpsichord playing. I generally find harpsichordists are more "authentic" in their realization since they study early music more than pianists. Listen to how the ornaments are executed.
Have fun!
Last edited by asiantraveller101; 07/02/13 06:45 PM.
