Topic: William Byrd's Perch

[SonicMan46]

I just ordered the Songs of Sundrie Natures disc with the Hilliard Ensemble on EMI. Excited to explore it. I have their recording of the masses which is also quite fine.

By the way, listening to Kit Armstrong talk about Byrd on the Gramophone podcast a few months ago was quite fascinating. Guy knows his stuff. I'm not particularly interested in hearing this music played on piano, but perhaps I ought to check out his new record. To contribute to the Byrd on piano discussion, Glenn Gould has a classic disc with some Byrd:

 

Quite good as far as this stuff goes.

Thanks all for the comments on Armstrong - I listened to the 2-CD package on Spotify yesterday (would like to do again w/ headphones on - have to keep the volume down if SWAMBO is around -  ) - enjoyed his performance.  Dave

[DaveF]

Also yesterday, I visited BRO and perused their Byrd offerings - selected the 4 below for potential purchase but suspect the Chandos recording overlaps one or more of the Hyperion discs - for you Byrdians, which of these are worth a buy and any to eliminate?  Thanks.  Dave

     

I don't know the Chandos, but from looking at the track listings there are only 3 pieces that also appear on the 2 Hyperion discs - Hæc dies, Miserere and Domine salva nos.  In any case, they will probably sound quite different in performances by an English college choir and a OVPP professional ensemble.

The Cardinalls' version of The Great Service is pretty good, I believe - it's transposed up the standard minor 3rd which, notwithstanding my advocacy of Simon Ravens' low-pitch version above, really does bring out the contrasts between low and high scoring in different passages.  I say 'I believe' because, to my surprise, I find I don't have a copy of it.  My reference recording is another Hyperion, the Westminster Abbey Choir with James O'Donnell - a bigger band altogether than the Cardinalls.

[SonicMan46]

I don't know the Chandos, but from looking at the track listings there are only 3 pieces that also appear on the 2 Hyperion discs - Hæc dies, Miserere and Domine salva nos.  In any case, they will probably sound quite different in performances by an English college choir and a OVPP professional ensemble.

The Cardinalls' version of The Great Service is pretty good, I believe - it's transposed up the standard minor 3rd which, notwithstanding my advocacy of Simon Ravens' low-pitch version above, really does bring out the contrasts between low and high scoring in different passages.  I say 'I believe' because, to my surprise, I find I don't have a copy of it.  My reference recording is another Hyperion, the Westminster Abbey Choir with James O'Donnell - a bigger band altogether than the Cardinalls.

Thanks DaveF for the comments - I put in the order for all 4 CDs (just $8 each @ BRO) - I'll do some comparative listening and decide if I want to keep all or possibly discard one?  Dave

[Mandryka]

I was forgetting one of the best, the Naxos CD with Rose Consort and Red Byrd and Tessa Bonner.


https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.550604