This is the eighth release in the projected complete
works of William Byrd under the aegis of ASV. One remembers the "birth"
of renaissance singing with the emergence of the Deller Consort in the
mid-1950s and the amazement, indeed furore, that the sound of a counter-tenor
voice produced. We now take this for granted in the short time of 50
years; even more than this, we have emerging a talent and expertise
in English renaissance which is envied; and rightly so. The number of
groups which have succeeded in bringing alive one of the best periods
of our national music has increased, together with the quality and understanding
of the genre. The Cardinall’s Musick are to the forefront in the interpretation
of the Tudor period. Their performances of the music of Fayrfax and
Ludford has been rightly praised and lauded. In this series of the works
of Byrd, they continue with excellent production as in previous volumes,
and, as before, embellish the result with scholarly research by Andrew
Carwood and David Skinner. Skinner is responsible for the booklet.
Here we have singing of the highest standard, with
a good understanding of how the latin Masses would have sounded. The
interesting thing is the contrast between various items. Judge the rapid
speeds of Vigilate and Laetetur caeli with the slower more solemn pace
of the other pieces. This is another group, like the Chapelle du Roi
who use one voice to a part, with the resultant improvement in clarity
of diction. Admittedly this is at the expense of the utmost in smoothness,
but I think it gives the music more bite. Throughout the series, the
intonation has been nigh perfect, with nicely graduated alterations
in dynamics, and as I mentioned before, excellent diction.
Several of the pieces feature here in their only available
recordings. This is more evident in earlier volumes, and there is no
doubt that our knowledge of this giant of English music has been much
enhanced. Warmly recommended
John Portwood
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The Cardinall’s
Musick/Andrew Carwood