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Track(s) taken from CDA67695

Burial Service

composer
attributed, in the Chirk Castle Part-Books, to Alcock; more probably by Parsons
author of text
Book of Common Prayer, 1552

The Brabant Ensemble, Stephen Rice (conductor)
Recording details: July 2008
Merton College Chapel, Oxford, United Kingdom
Produced by David Trendell
Engineered by Justin Lowe
Release date: April 2009
Total duration: 8 minutes 2 seconds

Cover artwork: William Mundy’s Te Deum ‘for trebles’ from the Chirk Castle Part-Books. MS Mus.Res.*MNZ(Chirk).
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations
 

Reviews

‘The new works are undoubtedly significant additions to the repertoire. On that count alone this recording is self-recommending. An even greater name among the new additions is that of Tallis … the predominant sonority is familiarly clear, transparent and assured … for the sake of the new pieces alone, lovers of this repertory will welcome this enthusiastically’ (Gramophone)

‘This is a beautifully conceived and exquisitely carried out program with much historical interest’ (American Record Guide)

‘You will never hear a more judiciously balanced, vocally better matched, nor technically more accomplished choral group than the 12-voice Brabant Ensemble. Founder/director Stephen Rice has assembled an exemplary company of voices aligned with repertoire that ideally suits the group's size and configuration. Combined with excellently recorded sound—from the Merton College Chapel venue favored by many choral ensembles—this production offers a program that's not only historically significant but that's worthy of repeated listening—intellectually involving, aesthetically pleasing, and emotionally engaging. How can you go wrong with that? Highly recommended!’ (Classics Today)
The Chirk scribe ensured that suitable services and anthems were provided for all aspects of worship at the chapel. The attribution of the Burial Service to Alcock (fl c1570) is doubtful for it is ascribed in several Restoration copies, no doubt erroneously, to John Parsons (d1623). Its unattributed survival in one of the Ludlow manuscripts in an early form of Anglican notation however suggests that composer may well be none other than Robert Parsons, best known for his exquisite motet Ave Maria. If so, this is possibly the earliest extant setting of the Burial Sentences and the dignified measured tread of the music is well suited for singing in procession.

from notes by David Evans © 2009

Le Burial Service est attribué à Alcock (qui fut actif vers 1570), ce qui est douteux car plusieurs copies de la Restauration l’imputent, sûrement par erreur, à John Parsons (mort en 1623). Il nous a cependant été conservé, sans attribution, dans l’un des manuscrits de Ludlow, sous une forme primitive de notation anglicane, et le compositeur pourrait bien en être Robert Parsons, célèbre pour son exquis motet Ave Maria. Ce qui en ferait la plus ancienne mise en musique des Burial Sentences, dont le digne pas mesuré convient bien au chant en procession.

extrait des notes rédigées par David Evans © 2009
Français: Hypérion

Ob Alcock (Hauptschaffenszeit um 1570) den Burial Service geschrieben hat, ist fraglich, da das Werk in mehreren Abschriften aus der Restaurationszeit—sicherlich irrtümlich—John Parsons (gest. 1623) zugeschrieben ist. Es ist jedoch auch in einem Manuskript aus Ludlow überliefert und keinem Komponisten zugeschrieben, doch deutet die frühe anglikanische Notationsform darauf hin, dass Robert Parsons, der für seine exquisite Motette Ave Maria berühmt ist, der Urheber sein könnte. Wenn das tatsächlich der Fall ist, dann handelt es sich hierbei möglicherweise um die früheste überlieferte Vertonung der musikalischen Bestandteile eines Beerdigungsgottesdienstes—der würdevolle, schreitende Rhythmus der Musik eignet sich jedenfalls gut dazu, in einer Prozession gesungen zu werden.

aus dem Begleittext von David Evans © 2009
Deutsch: Viola Scheffel

Sicrhaodd copïwr y Waun ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau ac anthemau addas ar gyfer pob agwedd ar addoliad yn y capel. Er y priodolwyd y Burial Service i Alcock (flc1570) ceir amheuaeth ynglyn â hynny, am ei fod wedi’i briodoli mewn sawl copi o adeg yr Adferiad, yn ddi-os ar gam, i John Parsons (m.1623). Fodd bynnag, mae’r ffaith ei fod wedi goroesi yn ddi-enw yn un o lawysgrifau Llwydlo ar ffurf gynnar o nodiant Anglicanaidd yn awgrymu y gall y cyfansoddwr fod yn neb llai na Robert Parsons, sydd fwyaf adnabyddus am ei fotét gwych Ave Maria. Os felly, mae’n bosibl mai hwn yw’r gosodiad cynharaf sydd ar gael o’r Burial Sentences, ac mae curiad urddasol a mesuredig y gerddoriaeth yn addas iawn ar gyfer canu mewn gorymdaith.

David Evans © 2009
Cymraeg: Helen Smith

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