Most of William Byrd’s
work has been recorded is available to listen to in the comfort of our own
homes. This includes:
·
a
complete edition of Latin choral music encompassing the published ‘Gradualia’
(1605-07), ‘Cantiones Sacre’ (1575, 1589, 1591) and unpublished Mass Ordinary
(1592-95) by The Cardinall’s Musick directed by Andrew Carwood (concluded
2010),
·
the
complete keyboard music performed by Davitt Moroney (1999),
·
the
first complete recording of ‘Psalmes, Sonets & songs of sadness and pietie’
(1588) by Alamire (choir) and Fretwork (consort of viols) directed by David
Skinner (2021),
·
the
first complete recording of ‘Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets’ (1611) by The Sixteen
and Fretwork directed by Harry Christophers (2022),
·
‘The
Great Service’ recorded by The Cardinall’s Musick directed by Andrew Carwood
(2012),
·
‘Consort
and Keyboard Music, Songs and Anthems’ by Rose Consort of Viols with Red Byrd
is an old recording but enjoyable programme for anyone listening to Byrd for
the first time (1994).
·
Three
other recommendations: ‘Tom and Will’, The King’s Singers and Fretwork (2023),
commemorates the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd and
Thomas Weelkes; ‘1605. Treason and Dischord. William Byrd and the Gunpowder
Plot’, The King’s Singers and Concordia (2005), and ‘Singing in Secret.
Clandestine Music by William Byrd’, The Marian Consort directed by Rory
McCleery (2020). The latter two discs include differing complete performances
of the ‘Mass for Four Voices’ in the programme.
All these compact discs have excellent liner
notes.
