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Track(s) taken from CDS44461/7

An Alman, BK117 EKM30

composer
Forster (No 68). [Neighbour, ‘Alman C2’ p 169]

Davitt Moroney (harpsichord)
Recording details: February 1997
Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, France
Produced by John Hayward-Warburton
Engineered by Ken Blair
Release date: September 1999
Total duration: 2 minutes 10 seconds

Cover artwork: Phoenix. A glass window specially designed, made and photographed by Malcolm Crowthers.
 

This alman in C major (Ionian) survives anonymously in its only source, but was identified as Byrd’s work in 1973 by Oliver Neighbour, who notes that it is ‘more refined in workmanship than any other in the whole repertory of virginal music.’ The form is similar to the G major alman (BK89), being in three strains, each with a varied repeat, but unlike that work, the whole piece is heard again, with a fully worked out variation. It must be one of Byrd’s most mature compositions, no doubt dating from around 1600 or later.

from notes by Davitt Moroney © 1999

Cette alman en ut majeur (mode ionien) est sans attribution dans la source. Elle a été identifiée comme étant de Byrd en 1973 par Oliver Neighbour, qui remarque qu’elle est “d’un travail plus raffiné que n’importe quelle alman dans le répertoire des virginalistes.” La forme est similaire à celle de l’alman en sol majeur (BK89), ayant trois strophes, chacune avec une reprise variée ; mais à la différence de cette pièce, l’œuvre est suivie ici d’une variation complète. Elle date de la maturité du compositeur, ayant été composée sans doute dans les années 1600.

extrait des notes rédigées par Davitt Moroney © 1999

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