The William Byrd Edition, Vol. 5: The Masses

William Byrd (Artist), Andrew Carwood (Artist), David Skinner (Artist), The Cardinall's Musick (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Gaudeamus
• ASIN: B00004WMX6
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,379 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #12 in Music > Classical > Sacred & Religious > Voluntaries

Track Listings

1. Fantasia a 4, for instrumental consort in D minor (doubtful)

2. Mass for 4 Voices (SATB): Kyrie

3. Mass for 4 Voices (SATB): Gloria

4. Mass for 4 Voices (SATB): Credo

5. Mass for 4 Voices (SATB): Sanctus

6. Mass for 4 Voices (SATB): Agnus

7. Fantasia (Voluntary for my Lady Neville), for keyboard in G major, MB 61

8. Mass for 3 Voices (ATB): Kyrie

9. Mass for 3 Voices (ATB): Gloria

10. Mass for 3 Voices (ATB): Credo

11. Mass for 3 Voices (ATB): Sanctus

12. Mass for 3 Voices (ATB): Agnus

13. Fantasia a 5, for instrumental consort in C major

14. Mass for 5 Voices (SATTB): Kyrie

15. Mass for 5 Voices (SATTB): Gloria

16. Mass for 5 Voices (SATTB): Credo

17. Mass for 5 Voices (SATTB): Sanctus

18. Mass for 5 Voices (SATTB): Agnus

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Characterful and memorable, August 13, 2005

By 

Sator (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The William Byrd Edition, Vol. 5: The Masses (Audio CD)

The music of William Byrd (c.1535/40 - 1623) was written in a paranoid and oppressive environment where the slightest gesture of pro-Catholicism could in the wrong context lead to imprisonment, torture and execution. Some even proposed taking away children from Catholic families to prevent them from passing on their beliefs to their offspring. The celebration of the Catholic mass too was forbidden, though still practiced in great fear and secrecy. It is into such a social environment that these works were born to be sung in privacy for fear of being discovered. The results are work of the greatest intimacy, darkness and mysticism - works that are arguably the greatest to have ever have flowed from the pen of an English composer. Indeed, Byrd is the yardstick by which all other English composers should be measured in the same way that Shakespeare is the yardstick for English literature.

The Cardinall's Musick are yet another group whose founder can be traced back to Cambridge. Andrew Carwood founded the group in 1989, which under his direction has developed a style of choral singing characterised by an unusually forthright and full-blooded approach, at least when compared to other groups originating out of Cambridge. In an age with so many Oxbridge choirs recording music by countless semi-obscure English composers, always to rapturous praise by English reviewers, it is easy to lose interest in this self-absorbed local scene of questionable international significance. Yet, whether you read German, French or Franco-Flemish commentators on music of the Renaissance, Byrd is as unquestionably accepted as a major composer as Shakespeare is as a major writer.

Perhaps few recordings of Byrd's music could illustrate this composer's ability as this collection of Latin masses - a musical form effectively defunct in post-Reformation England. The performances by the Cardinall's Musick capture the inner logic, and yet irresistible expressive drive on the lines in the performances that Byrd commanded. For even if Byrd lacks the effortless mellifluousness of Lassus or Palestrina's hushed sense of perfection, his music still has vigorous character. So performances as strong as those in the Byrd Edition here are particularly highly welcome.

Brian Robbins writing in Goldberg early music magazine thought that:

"This is the disc those not familiar with Byrd should make for first. Even those who are should add it to their collection as an urgent priority."

He awarded it the Goldberg five stars rating. However, like other English critic he tends to give nearly all of the Cardinall's music recordings a five star rating. A more honest appraisal was that by the American critic David Vernier:

"The sound is surprisingly timid and lacking in depth. Although there are some nice interpretive touches here involving special emphases, inflections, and other expressive nuances, as a whole the program just doesn't `fly'. Stick with the Tallis Scholars."

I think he was put off by the rather boxy and dry sound quality typical of all ASV recordings. The problem may be due to a substandard DA converter or poor transfer technology. ASV desperately need to upgrade if they can afford it. Still, I thought the 7/6 (for interpretation/sound quality) rating was slightly harsh for there are many interpretative felicities here that deserve recognition, particularly the forthright phrasing. Even the sound too is above average compared to other ASV releases - such as their Lassus CD.

Recommendable, although the Tallis Scholars' recording has definitely better sound (amongst the best ever afforded to them) and their interpretation must be counted as amongst their finest.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful conducting, profound music, March 22, 2004

By 

Rachel Reischling "zaidedarcy" (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The William Byrd Edition, Vol. 5: The Masses (Audio CD)

I got to meet conductor David Skinner while studying at Oxford two summers ago; I found him to be a greatly talented musician and teacher. At a performance of the Cardinall's Musick in Fartheringhay (in a small Renaissance chapel by the castle), he conducted his male chorus so beautifully that it was all I could do to stare at the unstained glass and try hard not to cry. William Byrd was slightly younger than Elizabeth Tudor, and died in 1623. He is arguably the best of English Renaissance performances. His music is simple yet profound, fragile yet overpowering. It's music to examine your soul to.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meaningful and exquisite, August 25, 2007

By 

Nan B. Walton "Nan Beth Walton" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The William Byrd Edition, Vol. 5: The Masses (Audio CD)

I am neither a Byrd scholar nor a person who normally writes critiques for
recordings. I would like to highly recommend this recording as being a
wonderful, highly charged reading of these three masses. I have performed
all three masses in various settings, but Andrew Carwood's choice of warm
and vibrant colors for the masses is both unusual and very thrilling. If
you prefer the etheral color of many who interpret these masses, you may
not appreciate the recording, but if you are one who either regularly
practices the liturgy, or who enjoys a passionate reading of these texts,
I think you will be truly delighted with the disk.

It sounds as if each of the singers takes full responsibility for
adequately presenting each of the texts in the woven lines of Byrd's
settings, and for communicating the passion of these texts to those who
might not understand the Latin, but who can perceive the mystery of faith
hidden therein. The colors added to each text are appropriate to the
differing texts, robust "Gloria", tender and pleading "Kyrie" and "Agnus
Dei", ethereal chorus of the angels and saints for each "Sanctus", and the
dramatic journey of Christ on earth and in heaven in the"Credo", all so
expressively interpreted brought this devout Lutheran to tears at each
listening.

Whether you are an affficionado of beautiful music or one for whom the texts
may have a more personal significance, I commend this album to you. The
notes are very well done, informative but written in an engaging manner. If
this isn't enough Byrd for you, The Cardinall's Musick is recording all of
the works of William Byrd, quite an addition to the classical music
library. The organ works of William Byrd which are inserted between each of
the mass settings is a brilliant touch, as your ears are refreshed to hear
each mass on its own. Well done!