[Cover graphic]

7 Compact Discs CDA66551/7

£69.95

The complete keyboard music, totalling 138 tracks of music, on seven CDs.

The Gramophone Award-winning artist, Davitt Moroney has spent more than fifteen years planning this momentous project and Hyperion are proud to be able to bring Davitt's wealth of expertise and musicianship to the label. Indeed, Davitt has even written the extensive booklet notes (45,000 words!).

As an authentic complete survey of this music, six different instruments have been used for the recording - two different harpsichords, muselar virginal, clavichord, chamber organ, and the Ahrend organ at L'Église-Musée des Augustins, Toulouse. The muselar virginal was specially made for this recording and is highly decorative - photographs of it can be found in the beautifully illustrated accompanying booklet.Also of special significance are the venues chosen for the recordings. They are: Ingatestone Hall in Essex, England which was the house of Byrd's patron Lord Petre (the house still belongs to the family today); L'Église-Musée des Augustins, Toulouse, France (where the huge and high nave creates an echo that lasts for nearly fifteen seconds, not unlike the acoustic at Lincoln Cathedral where Byrd was the organist and master of the choristers); and L'Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, France, the burial place of Henry II and Richard the Lionheart.

According to ancient legend, the phoenix (an image Byrd used in his first publication in 1575) is reborn from the centre of a blazing fire every five hundred years. Byrd, indeed, had to wait nearly as long before modern editions, concerts and recordings have been able to bring his music back to life. Davitt Moroney is the perfect musician for the job.

The seven CDs, contained in a specially designed box, are being sold for the price of five.

Recorded in l'Église-Musée des Augustins, Toulouse, France; Ingatestone Hall, Essex, England; l'Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, France on various dates in 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997
Recording Engineers
KEN BLAIR
MIKE HATCH
Recording Producers
EDWARD KERSHAW
NICK PARKER
JOHN HAYWARD-WARBURTON
Cover Design
TERRY SHANNON
Executive Producers
DAVITT MORONEY
EDWARD PERRY
© Hyperion Records Ltd, London, MCMXCIX

Duration: 497'29
DDD
Front illustration: Phoenix. A glass window specially designed, made and photographed by MALCOLM CROWTHERS

WILLIAM BYRD (1543-1623)

The Complete Keyboard Music

DAVITT MORONEY
harpsichords, muselar virginal, clavichord, chamber organ, organ

Contents:

COMPACT DISC 1 [58'29]

  1. Lord Willobies Welcome Home (Rowland), BK7 (muselar) [2'38]
  2. The Bells, BK38 (harpsichord HB) [5'37]

  3. The French Coranto, BK21a (harpsichord HB) [0'52]
  4. The Second French Coranto, BK21b (harpsichord HB) [0'50]
  5. The Third French Coranto, BK21c (harpsichord HB) [0'56]
  6. Hugh Ashton's Grownde, BK20 (muselar) [8'04]

  7. Callino Casturame, BK35 (harpsichord HB) [1'58]
  8. A Lesson of Voluntarie, two parts in one in the 4th above, BK26 (muselar) [6'17]
  9. The Carman's whistle, BK36 (chamber organ) [4'14]

  10. Sellinger's Rownde, BK84 (harpsichord HB) [6'11]
  11. Parson's In nomine, BK51 (chamber organ) [2'51]
  12. The Second Ground, BK42 (muselar) [8'56]
  13. A Horne Pipe, BK39 (harpsichord HB) [6'17]

  14. Miserere (I), BK66 [first version] (clavichord) [1'00]
  15. Miserere (II), BK67 [first version] (clavichord)
COMPACT DISC 2 [75'40]
  1. Pavin Johnson's Delighte, BK5a (harpsichord RvN, lute stop) [5'17]
  2. ... The Galliard, BK5b (harpsichord RvN, lute stop) [1'47]
  3. Preludium, BK24 (harpsichord RvN) [1'08]
  4. Galiardo Mistris Marye Brownlo, BK34 (harpsichord RvN) [3'11]
  5. Parludam, BK115 [EKM3] (muselar) [1'08]
  6. Pavana "Ph. Tr.", BK60a (muselar) [5'02]
  7. ... Galiarda, BK60b (muselar) [1'48]

  8. Alman, BK11 (harpsichord HB) [1'22]
  9. A Pavin, BK33a (harpsichord HB) [4'51]
  10. ... Galliard, BK33b (harpsichord HB) [1'53]
  11. Have with yow to Walsingame, BK8 (harpsichord RvN) [9'23]

  12. Pavana Lachrymae, BK54 (muselar) [5'58]
  13. Harding's Galliard, BK55 (muselar) [2'57]

  14. The Barley Break, BK92 (harpsichord RvN) [8'20]

  15. Pavana The Earle of Salisbury, BK15a (muselar) [1'43]
  16. ... Galiardo, BK15b (muselar) [1'09]
  17. ... Galiardo Secundo, BK15c (muselar) [2'10]

  18. Eccho paven, BK114a (harpsichord RvN) [4'17]
  19. ... The Galliard, BK114b (harpsichord RvN) [1'59]

  20. Wilson's Wilde, BK37 (harpsichord HB) [1'23]
  21. A Gigg, "F. Tr.", BK22 (muselar) [1'06]
  22. A Preludium, BK116 [EKM 4] (harpsichord HB) [1'29]
  23. Jhon come kisse me now, BK81 (harpsichord RvN) [5'37]
COMPACT DISC 3 [73'30]
    (all performed on Ahrend organ of l'Église-Musée des Augustins, Toulouse)

  1. Christe qui lux, BK121 [EECM6/34] [two versions] [2'26]
  2. Praeludium, BK12 [first version] [0'58]
  3. A Voluntarie, BK27 [5'36]

  4. Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, BK64 [8'28]
  5. Ut, mi, re, BK65 [7'51]

  6. Gloria tibi trinitas, BK50 [1'46]
  7. Miserere (I), BK66 [second version] [0'57]
  8. Miserere (II), BK67 [second version] [1'28]

  9. A Verse of Two Parts, BK28 [1'46]
  10. A Grounde, BK43 [2'59]
  11. A Fancie, BK46 [first version] [5'14]

  12. A Fancie, for my Ladye Nevell, BK25 [first version] [5'45]
  13. A Grounde, BK9 [first version] [4'30]

  14. Clarifica me, pater, 2 parts (I), BK47 [1'44]
  15. Clarifica me, pater, 3 parts (II), BK48 [1'34]
  16. Clarifica me, pater, [4 parts] (III), BK49 [3'15]

  17. Fantasia, BK62 [first version] [9'06]

  18. Salvator mundi (I), BK68 [1'15]
  19. Salvator mundi (II), BK69 [1'25]

  20. A Voluntarie, for my Ladye Nevell, BK61 [first version] [4'52]
COMPACT DISC 4 [59'16]
  1. Will yow walke the woods so wylde, BK85 (muselar) [4'36]
  2. Ut, Re, Mee, Fa, Sol, La, The playnesong...by a second Person, BK58 (muselar) [3'03]

  3. Go from my window, BK79 (harpsichord HB) [4'17]
  4. Fantasia, BK62 [second version] (harpsichord HB) [7'19]

  5. Fortune my Foe, Farewell Delight, BK6 (muselar) [3'57]
  6. Fantasia, BK63 (harpsichord HB) [4'32]

  7. Corranto, BK45 (harpsichord HB) [1'10]
  8. The Mayden's Songe, BK82 (chamber organ) [5'28]
  9. A Grounde, BK86 (muselar) [5'49]
  10. A Fancie, BK46 [second version] (harpsichord HB) [4'12]

  11. O quam gloriosum est regnum, EKM48 (muselar) [7'03]
  12. The Hunt's Up, BK40 (harpsichord HB) [7'19]
COMPACT DISC 5 [77'05]
  1. O Mistris myne, I must, BK83 (harpsichord RvN) [6'21]
  2. La Volta, BK91 (harpsichord HB) [1'24]
  3. Quadran Paven, BK70a (harpsichord RvN) [8'47]
  4. ... Quadran Galliard, BK70b (harpsichord RvN) [4'34]

  5. A Grounde, BK9 [second version] (harpsichord HB) [4'18]
  6. If my complaints, or Pyper's Galliard, BK118 [EKM26] (harpsichord HB) [2'26]
  7. The Queenes Alman, BK10 (muselar) [3'00]
  8. A Pavion, BK23a (muselar) [4'42]
  9. ... The Galliard, BK23b (muselar) [1'44]

  10. Pavana Bray, BK59a (harpsichord RvN) [4'42]
  11. ... Galiarda, BK59b (harpsichord RvN) [1'33]
  12. La Volta L. Morley, BK90 (harpsichord HB) [1'28]
  13. Pavana, BK4a (muselar) [2'17]
  14. ... Galiarda, BK4b (muselar) [1'48]

  15. Gypseis Round, BK80 (harpsichord RvN) [4'43]
  16. Pavana, BK52a (harpsichord RvN) [5'04]
  17. ... Galliarda, BK52b (harpsichord RvN) [1'47]
  18. Galliard, BK53 (harpsichord HB) [1'44]
  19. An Almane, BK89 (muselar) [1'20]
  20. Pavin, BK76 (muselar) [3'07]
  21. A Galliard, BK77 (muselar) [1'03]

  22. An Alman, BK117 [EKM 30] (harpsichord HB) [2'10]
  23. A Galliarde Gygge, BK18 (harpsichord HB) [2'03]
  24. Paven, BK73a (muselar) [2'33]
  25. ... Galiard, BK73b (muselar) [1'34]
COMPACT DISC 6 [77'40]
  1. Qui passe, for my Ladye Nevell, BK19 (harpsichord HB) [3'43]
  2. A Fancie, for my Ladye Nevell, BK25 [second version] (harpsichord HB) [5'34]

  3. The firste pavian, BK29a (muselar) [4'39]
  4. ... The galliarde, BK29b (muselar) [1'43]
  5. The second pavian, BK71a (harpsichord HB) [2'57]
  6. ... The galliarde, BK71b (harpsichord HB) [1'45]
  7. The third pavian, BK14a (muselar) [5'03]
  8. ... The galliard, BK14b (muselar) [1'46]
  9. The fourth pavian, BK30a (harpsichord HB) [2'50]
  10. ... The galliarde, BK30b (harpsichord HB) [1'49]
  11. The fifte pavian, BK31a (muselar) [5'12]
  12. ... The galliarde, BK31b (muselar) [1'41]
  13. Pavana the vi, Kinbrugh Good, BK32a (harpsichord HB) [4'49]
  14. ... The galliarde, BK32b (harpsichord HB) [1'44]
  15. The seventh pavian, Canon 2 parts in 1, BK74 (muselar) [4'49]
  16. The eighte pavian, BK17 (muselar) [4'56]
  17. The nynth pavian, the Passinge mesures, BK2a (harpsichord HB) [6'31]
  18. ... The galliarde, BK2b (harpsichord HB) [5'19]

  19. My Ladye Nevell's Grownde, BK57 (harpsichord HB) [5'18]
  20. A Voluntarie, for my Ladye Nevell, BK61 [second version] (harpsichord HB)[4'54]
COMPACT DISC 7 [75'49]
  1. Preludium, BK1 (harpsichord RvN) [0'40]
  2. Pavana Sir William Petre, BK3a (harpsichord RvN) [4'30]
  3. ... Galiardo, BK3b (harpsichord RvN) [2'13]

  4. The Marche before the Battell, BK93 (muselar) [4'12]
  5. The Battell, BK94 (Muselaar) [12'50]
  6. The Galliard for the Victorie, BK95 (muselar) [1'59]

  7. All in a garden greene, BK56 (harpsichord HB) [4'52]
  8. Monsieur's Alman (I), BK87 (harpsichord RvN) [3'48]
  9. Monsieur's Alman (II), BK88 (harpsichord RvN) [6'06]
  10. The Ghost, BK78 (harpsichord HB) [2'58]
  11. Monsieur's Alman (III), BK44 (harpsichord RvN) [2'09]

  12. A Pavyn, BK16a (muselar) [4'11]
  13. A Galliard, BK16b (muselar) [1'36]
  14. Paven, BK100a [EKM10a] (harpsichord RvN) [1'59]
  15. ... Galiard, BK100b [EKM10b] (harpsichord RvN) [1'02]
  16. Lady Montegle's Paven, BK75 (harpsichord HB) [2'59]
  17. A Pavion, BK72a (harpsichord HB) [4'13]
  18. ... The Galliard to it, BK72b (harpsichord HB) [1'48]

  19. Praeludium to the Fancie, BK12 [second version] (muselar) [0'48]
  20. Praeludium to the Fancie, BK12 [third version] (harpsichord HB) [0'43]
  21. Praeludium to the Fancie, BK12 [fourth version] (clavichord) [0'42]
  22. Praeludium to the Fancie, BK12 [fifth version] (harpsichord RvN) [0'40]
  23. Fantasia, BK13 (harpsichord RvN) [8'05]
Sleeve Notes

GRAMOPHONE CRITICS' CHOICE
GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER
CLASSIC CD 100 GREATEST DISCS OF THE DECADE
PREIS DER DEUTSCHEN SCHALLPLATTENKRITIK

'Surely definitive and a triumph for all concerned … The quality of the interpretation flows flawlessly throughout the series … Probably the most significant issue I have yet reviewed. There are so many glorious details in his playing that it is hard to know where to begin in its praise' (Gramophone)

'The production values beggar description. Absolutely stunning. A landmark release as musically eloquent as it is scholastically fastidious' (Classic CD)

'In his 100-page essay on William Byrd, Moroney argues forcefully that the 56 pavans and galliards deserve to be ranked with the 48 preludes and fugues of Bach and the 32 sonatas of Beethoven. And on the strength of his superb playing of a rich array of contrasting instruments, the case for Byrd as one of the great keyboard composers is more than justified: the extraordinary spectrum of influences from which the Elizabethan composer took his inspiration suggests a genius as versatile as the great baroque and classical masters. This marvellous set - recorded painstakingly over six years and only now released as an integral edition - provides invaluable insight into this relatively neglected aspect of Byrd's prolific output. Moroney is as convincing on the organ - using 17th-century instruments or copies, but without the pedals that Byrd would not have known - as he is on the harpsichord, clavicord and virginals. A monument in the history of early-music recording.' (The Sunday Times)

'This is a truly landmark recording' (The New Statesman)

'If you have any interest at all in Byrd, keyboard music, English culture, or, indeed, music of any sort, buy this set' (Early Music Review)

'In 25 years of reviewing I haven't come across anything of such importance, substance and consistent musicianship' (BBC CD Review)

'Affectionate, stylish, catchy, sophisticated and virtuosic, a feast of a lifetime' (Classic fM Magazine)

'Endless dipping-in delights' (Birmingham Post)

'A triumph. Surely the definitive account for the foreseeable future' (BBC Music Magazine)

'One of the great monuments of recording in recent years, an issue that demands a place in every Byrd collection' (Goldberg)

See also:
Byrd: Keyboard Music
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