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Track(s) taken from CDA67779

Visita quaesumus, Domine

composer
4vv; Gradualia 1605 II:xi
author of text
Prayer at Compline

The Cardinall's Musick, Andrew Carwood (conductor)
Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available
CD-Quality:
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CD-Quality:
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Recording details: April 2009
Fitzalan Chapel, Arundel Castle, United Kingdom
Produced by Jonathan Freeman-Attwood
Engineered by Martin Haskell & Iestyn Rees
Release date: February 2010
Total duration: 3 minutes 34 seconds

Cover artwork: The Suffering of the Saints: St Paul on the Road to Damascus, from the Heures d'Etienne Chevalier (c1445). Jean Fouquet (c1420-1480)
Musée Condé, Chantilly, France / Giraudon / Bridgeman Images
 

Other recordings available for download

The Cardinall's Musick, Andrew Carwood (conductor)
The Cambridge Singers, John Rutter (conductor)
The Cambridge Singers, John Rutter (conductor)

Reviews

‘Hyperion has done Byrd proud … it's a mixture also of the celebratory, as though the singers were congratulating themselves on a job well done—as well they might—and the pentitential, concluding with the full ensemble in a finely judged and quite extrovert Infelix ego, surely one of Byrd's most memorable motets … the commitment of singers and label alike is a cause for gratitude, perhaps even optimism. Congratulations to all concerned’ (Gramophone)

‘The Cardinall's Musick pays tribute to the whole landscape of Byrd's genius with a passion that ends the project on a high. As with the earlier instalments, Andrew Carwood's direction and programming are equally inspired … the centrepiece is the searing Infelix ego; here, the recusant Byrd explores a martyr's preparation for death, taking the listener through every emotional extreme before transcending the built-up tension in a glorious coda. The musical imagination of The Cardinall's Musick does full justice to that of Byrd. Unique about this ensemble is its expressiveness, whether members sing seamlessly as one or tug at each other's lines. The group's delivery is a sensual delight’ (BBC Music Magazine)
Visita quaesumus, Domine is one of the exquisite miniatures of the 1605 Gradualia. The text seems to be a variant on a prayer from Compline and its scoring for two sopranos, an alto and a tenor is unusual but not without precedent. Byrd had experimented with similar forces as a young man in his contribution to the lengthy Psalm-setting In exitu Israel with his friend William Mundy and his mentor John Sheppard and later in the ripely Italian-sounding Salve sola Dei genetrix.

from notes by Andrew Carwood © 2010

Visita quaesumus, Domine est l’une des exquises miniatures des Gradualia de 1605. Son texte semble être la variante d’une prière de complies et, si elle est inhabituelle, son écriture pour deux sopranos, alto et ténor n’est pas sans précécent. Jeune, Byrd avait déjà expérimenté de telles forces dans sa contribution au très long psaume In exitu Israel (composé avec son ami William Mundy et son mentor John Sheppard) et, plus tard, dans l’italianisant Salve sola Dei genetrix.

extrait des notes rédigées par Andrew Carwood © 2010
Français: Hypérion

Visita quaesumus, Domine ist eine jener exquisiten Miniaturen der Gradualia von 1605. Der Text scheint eine Variante eines Komplet-Gebets zu sein und es ist für zwei Sopranstimmen, eine Alt- und eine Tenorstimme angelegt, was ungewöhnlich, jedoch nicht erstmalig ist. Byrd hatte als junger Mann bereits mit ähnlichen Besetzungen experimentiert: zunächst in der Psalmvertonung In exitu Israel, ein Gemeinschaftswerk von ihm, seinem Freund William Mundy und seinem Mentor John Sheppard, und dann später in der ausgereift italienisch anmutenden Komposition Salve sola Dei genetrix.

aus dem Begleittext von Andrew Carwood © 2010
Deutsch: Viola Scheffel

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