John Sheppard - Cantate Mass: The Sixteen
Two discs and only 4 of 20 tracks are the Cantate mass - there's also a good range of motets including many of Sheppard's best known pieces, such as the Christmas motet Verbum caro factus est and the beautiful Libera nos. If you need convincing of Sheppard's genius, just listen to the Amen of Jesu salvator saeculi, redemptis - taken individually some of the lines sound positively 20th century in their modernity, and in combination it takes your breath away - it's hard not to say 'he can't do that!' - but he does. Perhaps the only criticism is that the Sixteen underplay the clashes so they aren't quite as shocking as they could be. Even so, probably the best introduction to Sheppard now on the market.
CDs by William Byrd
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. Starting under the tutelage of Thomas Tallis, Byrd eventually threatened to eclipse his master in the power of his writing.
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
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.
English Anthems: Sing Joyfully. Turn Our Captivity. Praise Our Lord, All Ye Gentiles. Motets Of Penitence And Prayer: Emendemus In Melius. Siderum Rector
Plorans Plorabit, Visita, Quaesumus Domine. Motets Of Praise And Rejoicing: Attollite Portas. Laudibus In Sanctis. Motets For The Church's Year: Gaudeamus Omnes, Ave Verum Corpus. Veni, Sancte Spiritus. Christus Resurgens
Solve Lubente Deo, O Magnum Misterium, Non Vos Relinquam, O Quam Suavis
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.
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.
Plorans Plorabit, Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christe Secundum Johannem. Adoramus Te - Patrick Russill. Holy Saturday, Vespers: Psalm Antiphon: Alleluia/Psalm 116/Psalm Antiphon: Alleluia. Holy Saturday, Vespers: Antiphon: Vespere Autem Sabbati/Magnificat/Antiphon: Vespere Autem Sabbati. Holy Saturday, Vespers: Oratio & Ite Missa Est. Mass Propers For Easter Day: Introit: Resurrexi, Mass Propers For Easter Day: Gradual: Haec Dies/Alleluia: Pascha Nostrum. Mass Propers For Easter Day: Sequence: Victimae Paschali Laudes, Mass Propers For Easter Day: Offertory: Terra Tremuit, Mass Propers For Easter Day: Communion: Pascha Nostrum, Haec Dies, Angelus Domini, Mane Vobiscum, Post Dies Octo, Christus Resurgens
