Byrd Sacred Works

Byrd Sacred Works

SIGCD776 (Signum Classics, CD, 2 discs)

COMPILATION (5 January 2024)

Playing time: 144'01"
Tracks: 22 + 14
Booklet pages: 24
℗ 2023 and 1981 Signum Records Ltd
© 2023 Signum Records Ltd
Reviewer: Gerald Fenech
Review of Byrd Sacred Works published on 5 February 2024

The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, Fifth Avenue, New York
Nicolas Haigh, organ (CD1 tracks 1 and 10)
Jeremy Filsell, organ (CD1 track 21 and CD2 tracks 2 and 7), conductor
Gerre Hancock, conductor (Great Service)

William Byrd:

CD1

1 Clarifica me Pater I
2 Cibavit eos
3 Kyrie eleison (Mass for Four Voices)
4 Gloria in excelsis (Mass for Four Voices)
5 Collect
6 Epistle
7 Occuli omnium
8 Alleluia: Cognoverunt discipuli
9 Gospel
10 Clarifica me Pater II
11 Credo
12 Credo II
13 Sacerdotes Domini
14 Sursum Corda & Proper Preface
15 Sanctus (Mass for Four Voices)
16 Benedictus (Mass for Four Voices)
17 Pater noster & Pax vobiscum
18 Agnus Dei (Mass for Four Voices)
19 Quotiescunque manducabitis
20 Ego sum panis
21 Salvator Mundi I
22 O sacrum convivium

CD2

1 Ave verum corpus
2 Salvator Mundi II
3 Pange lingua
4 Sacris solemnis
5 Dominus vobiscum
6 O Salutaris hostia
7 Fantasia in D minor

The Great Service:
8 Venite
9 Te Deum
10 Benedictus
11 Kyrie
12 Credo
13 Magnificat
14 Nunc Dimittis

This is a recreation of the Catholic Mass for the Feast of Corpus Christi as Byrd might have experienced it in the late sixteenth century. It includes various Latin motets written by Byrd for the feast, along with the remarkable Mass setting in four parts. The recording of Byrd's Great Service, conducted by Gerre Hancock, was issued in 1981. The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, Fifth Avenue, New York, is the leading ensemble of its kind in the US Anglican tradition. As well as having toured the US, the Choir has performed all over Europe, including at Westminster Abbey and the Vatican.

Recorded in May 1981 at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Times Square, New York, USA (Great Service).

Recorded on 26 May 2022 on the Loening-Hancock Gallery Organ by Taylor & Boody in Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, USA (solo organ works).

Recorded 23-25 May 2022 in the Church of St Paul the Apostle, Columbus Circle, New York, USA (other works).