Byrd - Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets (1611) | Coro COR16193

Byrd - Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets (1611)

£20.85

In stock - available for despatch within 1 working day

Label: Coro

Cat No: COR16193

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 2

Genre: Vocal/Choral

Release Date: 7th October 2022

Contents

About

‘To all true lovers of Musicke…. Being excited by your kind acceptance of my former travails in Musicke, I am thereby much encouraged to commend to you these my last labours… Wherein I hope you shall find Musicke to content every humour: either melancholy, merry, or mixt of both’, said William Byrd of his final publication – the Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets of 1611. And what a superbly fitting culmination to a lifetime of musical service it is! As well as being packed with variety and invention – including both sacred and secular music and using a range of forces from small trios to consorts to full choir – it is probably the happiest, most serene collection of music Byrd ever produced.

Ahead of William Byrd’s 400th Anniversary in 2023, The Sixteen and Harry Christophers are joined by celebrated viol consort, Fretwork, for this new complete recording of the Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets of 1611.

‘[Byrd’s] choral writing has a simplicity and intensity, perfectly suited to the blended sound of The Sixteen.’ – The Guardian

Reviews

With 2023 marking the 400th anniversary of William Byrd’s death, you might be expecting a surge in recordings of his sacred choral works, and if so, I would advise you strongly not to pass over this largely secular collection. It is an extraordinarily poignant release that will delight, distract and could also, potentially, recalibrate our thinking about the late, great Byrd. ... This is a landmark release finally addressing one of the most obvious oversights in Byrd’s recorded catalogue. It’s an exquisite album of unparalleled beauty that will bear repeated listening long past the anniversary year ...  Edward Breen (Recording of the Month)
Gramophone November 2022

Error on this page? Let us know here

Need more information on this product? Click here