Byrd Weekend

[Nick Armstrong]

Looking forward to the Byrd this weekend: BAL on the Mass for Four Voices, and then the two-parter EMS on the man and his music on Saturday and Sunday

[doversoul1]

Byrd Weekend

Saturday and Sunday
As part of Radio 3 Celebrating British Music, Catherine Bott introduces two programmes about the life and music of William Byrd, in conversation with conductor Andrew Carwood [...]http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0260hsl

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0261v9t

Some of my pick:
Ye sacred Muses: Robin Blaze, Concordia
Come, pretty babe: Alfred Deller, Wenzinger Consort
Wretched Albinus: James Bowman, Ricercar Consort, Philippe Pierlot

CD Review
9.30am Building a Library
Simon Heighes explores recordings of Byrd’s Mass for 4 voices and makes a recommendation

…as has been posted by ardcarp on The Choir Board:

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?8484-Byrd-on-BAL

and by Caliban

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?8527-Good-weekend-for-Byrd-fanciers

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

indeed whooopee ...

[Serial_Apologist]

By near coincidence in time we have two Byrd threads, neither of which is Donald!

I always think of William Byrd as having composed all the religious music in major keys that Tallis didn't.

I shall be listening too

[Nick Armstrong]

we have two Byrd threads

No longer! Merger has occurred!

I'll leave the BAL one separate but doversoul, I think we can happily cohabit here?

[doversoul1]

We certainly can. This is going to be a very enjoyable (and possibly expensive) weekend. I am beginning to change my mind about the British Music Month

[Serial_Apologist]

We certainly can. This is going to be a very enjoyable (and possibly expensive) weekend. I am beginning to change my mind about the British Music Month

It would be great if we could have a Japanese music month, ds! Fat hopes on that score, I guess.

[Pegleg]

Nose flutes to you. Classical Japanese music would be an eduction. I'd be happy to listen in. As to Byrd, my ears will be twitching all weekend.

[BBMmk2]

There is sooo much going with Radio 3 this mon th, I mm finding it very hard to keep up!! One of m,y favgourite Tudor composers, is WB and he had such a difficult time as well. I am amazed he survived at all!

[ardcarp]

Hope I'm posting this in the right place. Today's EMS was excellent, as usual. I thought the varied choice of choirs was well judged and Andrew Carwood's (up-to-date) scholarship was very welcome. I didn't hugely enjoy the organ piece, no doubt very authentic, with its funny temperament and squeaky out-of-tune top note. OTOH Robin Blaise's Ye Sacred Muses (with viols) was out of this world. I share CB's awe of this amazing piece.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0260hsl

[Miles Coverdale]

Does anyone else remember a broadcast in 1987/88 of part of Byrd's Great Service sung by (I think) the Gabrieli Consort at low pitch (ie in C major, not E flat) with cornetts and sackbuts? I don't think it's ever been repeated. I used to have a tape of it but managed to write over it. I'd love to hear it again.

[ardcarp]

The second (Sunday's) EMS on Byrd with CB and Andrew Carwood was also a cracker:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0261v9t

It featured Glen Gould playing Sellinger's Round on the piano, the unbelievably dissonant O Salutaris Hostia and my absolute favourite, The Lullaby. I do prefer the latter as a consort song with viols rather than as a choral piece. (The version today, by Pro Cantione Antiqua, was IMO a tad strident and lacked pathos.)

On the subject of dissonance, does anyone know Byrd's Come Woeful Orpheus from his Psalms, Songs and Sonnets? Many think it is a satire upon the Italian madrigal. I can't say I've heard it broadcast anywhere recently, so EMS, next time around?

[Nick Armstrong]

The second (Sunday's) EMS on Byrd with CB and Andrew Carwood was also a cracker:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0261v9t

It featured Glen Gould playing Sellinger's Round on the piano, the unbelievably dissonant O Salutaris Hostia and my absolute favourite, The Lullaby. I do prefer the latter as a consort song with viols rather than as a choral piece.

Agreed Terrific pair of programmes, thanks Catherine (when you look in). I liked the tone of academic and performance expertise worn lightly and with enthusiasm and humour.

In programme 2, the piece that got me right in the tender parts was Infelix Ego...

I used to think that Byrd was a little behind Sheppard and especially Tallis in my affections, Byrd seeming a little more restrained and formal, and less individual. But I'm re-evaluating that after hearing Infelix Ego, and the Agnus Dei of the Mass for Four Voices (which I can't get out of my head - it's playing in there as I type).

What an astonishing era of English music.

[ardcarp]

In programme 2, the piece that got me right in the tender parts was Infelix Ego...

I used to think that Byrd was a little behind Sheppard and especially Tallis in my affections

The way they sang Infelix was what did it! They really socked it to us, if you know what I mean, and AC wasn't afraid to toy with speed and dynamics for expressive purposes (which a certain other vg consort doesn't do very often).

Byrd is an altogether more cosmopolitan composer than his immediate predecessors. I adore the 'pre-Reformation' sound of the Fayrfaxes, Taverners and the rest, but Byrd...apart from his attachment to the English cadence and love of false relation...always seems more 'modern'. My Ladye Nevells Booke sits permanently on our piano at home and there is much variety and pleasure to be found in it. My kids always used refer to 'Dad's obsession with his lady's navel'.

TMI ?

[Nick Armstrong]

My kids always used refer to 'Dad's obsession with his lady's navel'.

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings.....

Yes those CM performances are a treat. Seriously tempted to chuck some cash Hyperion's way