[Cover graphic]

Compact Disc CDA67568

£13.99

It is Byrd’s genius which first attracts musicians and listeners to his music: his fine command of invention and dramatic flow, his subtle melodies and harmonic turns mixed with a sophisticated understanding of the texts that he chose to set. Quite simply he was the finest composer of his age.

For ten years now Andrew Carwood and The Cardinall’s Musick have been engaged on a project to make the definitive recordings of William Byrd’s Latin Church music. We are delighted to be able to issue this tenth disc—there will be three more to complete the series—on the Hyperion label (volumes 1 to 9 appeared on the ASV/Sanctuary imprint).

The survey has now reached the highpoint of Byrd’s creative achievement that is the 1591 Cantiones Sacrae publication from which we have seven works, culminating in the athletic extravagances of Laudibus in sanctis. From the 1605 Gradualia—the thread of Byrd’s subversive liturgical legacy which has run through the whole of this series—we have a further nine motets, including the Propers for use at Lady Mass in Eastertide.

Recorded in Fitzalan Chapel, Arundel Castle, on 10–12 May 2006
Recording Engineers
MARTIN HASKELL
IESTYN REES
Recording Producer
JONATHAN FREEMAN-ATTWOOD
Front Picture Research
RICHARD HOWARD
Executive Producer
SIMON PERRY
NICK FLOWER
© Hyperion Records Ltd, London, MMVI

Duration: 69'45
DDD
Front illustration: The Annuciation by Jean Fouquet (c1420–1480)

WILLIAM BYRD (1543-1623)

Laudibus in sanctis

THE CARDINALL'S MUSICK
soprano Carys Lane, Cecilia Osmond, Rebecca Outram
alto Caroline Trevor, Patrick Craig, David Gould
tenor Jeremy Budd, Andrew Carwood, Thomas Hobbs, Julian Stocker
baritone Robert Evans   bass Robert Macdonald
 ANDREW CARWOOD


Contents:

  1. Quis est homo?   SSATB [6'19]
  2. Tribulatio proxima est   ATTBarB [5'28]
  3. Apparebit in finem   SATTB [2'33]

    Propers for Lady Mass in Eastertide

  4. Salve sancta parens INTROIT   SATBarB [4'37]
  5. Alleluia. Ave Maria … Virga Iesse ALLELUIAS   SATBarB [3'39]
  6. Beata es, virgo Maria OFFERTORY   SATBarB [2'06]
  7. Beata viscera COMMUNION  SATBarB [1'48]

  8. Regina caeli   SAT [4'48]

  9. Salve regina   SATBarB [7'07]
  10. Fac cum servo tuo   SATTB [4'41]

  11. Ecce quam bonum   SATBar [3'41]
  12. In manus tuas, Domine   SSTB [2'14]
  13. Unam petii a Domino   SSATBar [3'50]
  14. Visita quaesumus, Domine   SSAT [3'19]

  15. Domine, exaudi orationem meam, inclina   STTBarB [6'26]
  16. Laudibus in sanctis   SSATBar [5'44]
Sleeve Notes

GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER 2007- EARLY MUSC
DIAPASON D'OR

'If, according to Burney, the Mannheim orchestra of 1772 was 'an army of Generals', the Cardinall's Musick of 2006 is surely 'an exaltation of larks'... Performances of exquisite perfection' (International Record Review)

'The 12 voices sing out, individuality intact and ideal for airing the awesome polyphony of Byrd's Latin motets, both fervent and meditative' (The Times)

'This is the tenth disc in the ensemble's complete recordings of Byrd, but the first in the series with Hyperion... [The] engineering gains and the artists' freshness and conviction make this recording a high-water mark in the project. Carwood has captured the passion, delicacy and complexity of England's greatest Renaissance composer' (BBC Music Magazine)

'The grasp that Andrew Carwood and his Cardinall's Musick group have on Byrd's scores now seems unassailable; the fluidity and elevated level of internal detail in the opening 'Laudibus in sanctis' sets out their stall for the rest of this thoughtfully conceived album' (Choir & Organ magazine)

'Sit back and enjoy the gleaming passionate tones of the Cardinall's Musick as they take you on a tour of some of the choral finest music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries' (Early Music Forum of Scotland News)

This disc offers sacred works from two of his collections: Cantiones Sacrae (1591) and the 1605 Gradualia. The latter includes the complete Propers for Lady Mass in Easter Tide as well as a gorgeous Regina Caeli setting. The Cardinall's Musick perform with powerful energy and a creamy vocal blend. Highly recommended' (CD Hotlist)

' … Le volume X atteint une variété sonore qui rend justice à tous les registres du programme, jusqu'aux passages madrigalesques les plus échevelés, Apparebit in finem le premier. Toujours à un par voix, brillamment conduits, ces excellents chanteurs magnifient avec autant de maîtrise que d'engagement un immense compositeur. Magistral' (Diapason)

'Andrew Carwood and the Cardinall's Musick are distinguished exponents of this repertoire and their singing is uniformly superb and vigorously uplifting. Annotations and sound are beyond blemish in what is an issue of five-star quality' (Classical.net)

'An ideal interpreter of this music, his insight into the music combining with his sympathy for the composer' (Fanfare, USA)

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