c1543-1623
What can you say about this man who is arguably the greatest English composer ever. Byrd's key output is not large, but when you consider that his Ave Verum Corpus is often considered the most perfect anthem ever written (I'm afraid Mozart's rendition isn't in the same league, while Elgar's is frankly not one of his better works), and then throw in the unbelievably simple yet taxing masses in 3, 4 and 5 parts you've already got a canon of church music that is hard to rival. And of course there's more to Byrd than that. Even minor pieces, like his settings of the Preces and Responses are remarkably good.
Perhaps part of Byrd's perfection arises from his unusually risky position as a staunch Catholic in a country which through his lifetime veered between broadly Protestant and downright militant.
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The Masses-
Cardinall's Musick.
The three, four and five part masses in all their glory, with a bit
of organ music thrown in for good measure. Of the three, the four part,
the earliest to be written is probably the best - the Agnus Dei simply
pushes you out of this world when you listen to it - but they are all
superb. - New
2 March 2002
Byrd: Ave Verum Corpus (Sacred Choral Works) - Cambridge Singers.
Despite being rather over-large for the subtlety of Byrd's music,
John Rutter's group show their usual professionalism in this collection of
Byrd's best anthems (he did do a few pieces in English) and motets.
Inevitably includes the jewel in the crown of English church music, Byrd's
Ave Verum Corpus. - New
2 March 2002
1. English Anthems: Sing Joyfully
2. English Anthems: Turn Our Captivity
3. English Anthems: Praise Our Lord, All Ye Gentiles
4. Motets Of Penitence And Prayer: Emendemus In Melius
5. Motets Of Penitence And Prayer: Siderum Rector
6. Motets Of Penitence And Prayer: Plorans Plorabit
7. Motets Of Penitence And Prayer: Visita, Quaesumus Domine
8. Motets Of Praise And Rejoicing: Attollite Portas
9. Motets Of Praise And Rejoicing: Laudibus In Sanctis
10. Motets For The Church's Year: Gaudeamus Omnes
11. Motets For The Church's Year: Ave Verum Corpus
12. Motets For The Church's Year: Veni, Sancte Spiritus
13. Motets For The Church's Year: Christus Resurgens
14. Motets For The Church's Year: Solve Lubente Deo
15. Motets For The Church's Year: O Magnum Misterium
16. Motets For The Church's Year: Non Vos Relinquam
17. Motets For The Church's Year: O Quam Suavis
18. Motets For The Church's Year: Justorum Animae
The Three Masses - The Tallis Scholars.
If you want to condense Byrd's two greatest masterpieces
onto a single CD this is probably the one to get, with both Ave Verum
Corpus and the 4 part mass (along with the 3 part and the 5 part) on a
single CD.
As usual, the Tallis Scholars give a faultless performance, and it would be churlish to suggest that they sound a little cold - it's still and excellent CD. - New 2 March 2002
Music for Holy Week and Easter - Cardinall's Musick.
In case you were beginning to think that all there was to
Byrd was the famous 3 masses and a couple of motets, this CD helpfully
fleshes out the Byrd repertoire with some less heard music.
It may not all be quite as superb as the
best Byrd, but it's all worth listening to and there are some fascinating
surprises that stand out. - New
2 March 2002
1. Plorans Plorabit
2. Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christe Secundum Johannem
3. Adoramus Te - Patrick Russill
4. Holy Saturday, Vespers: Psalm Antiphon: Alleluia/Psalm 116/Psalm
Antiphon: Alleluia
5. Holy Saturday, Vespers: Antiphon: Vespere Autem Sabbati/Magnificat/Antiphon:
Vespere Autem Sabbati
6. Holy Saturday, Vespers: Oratio & Ite Missa Est
7. Mass Propers For Easter Day: Introit: Resurrexi
8. Mass Propers For Easter Day: Gradual: Haec Dies/Alleluia: Pascha
Nostrum
9. Mass Propers For Easter Day: Sequence: Victimae Paschali Laudes
10. Mass Propers For Easter Day: Offertory: Terra Tremuit
11. Mass Propers For Easter Day: Communion: Pascha Nostrum
12. Haec Dies
13. Angelus Domini
14. Mane Vobiscum
15. Post Dies Octo
16. Christus Resurgens
Looking for a particular type of music or a CD with a particular piece on? Drop us an e-mail and we'll try to help. Do let us know also if you can recommend on online resource and we'll add it to our lists.
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Unleashed Limited 2006
Last update 27 March 2006
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