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Track(s) taken from CDA67695

O God give ear and do apply

composer
Psalms, Sonets, and songs of Sadnes and Pietie, 1588
author of text
after Psalm 55: 1-3

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: 3 minutes 27 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)
Byrd’s five-part O God give ear and do apply comes from Psalms, Sonets, and songs of Sadnes and Pietie (1588) but may well have been originally conceived as a consort song. He sets the first four stanzas of Psalm 55 and achieves a fine balance between rich homophony and suave contrapuntal writing.

from notes by David Evans © 2009

O God give ear and do apply de Byrd, à cinq parties, vient des Psalms, Sonets and songs of Sadnes and Pietie (1588) mais a pu être d’abord un consort song. Dans cette mise en musique des quatre premières stances du psaume 55, Byrd réalise un bel équilibre entre homophonie riche et écriture contrapuntique suave.

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

Byrds fünfstimmiges O God give ear and do apply stammt aus Psalms, Sonets, and songs of Sadnes and Pietie (1588), könnte ursprünglich jedoch auch als Consort Song angelegt gewesen sein. Hier sind die ersten vier Strophen aus Psalm 55 vertont, wobei ihm eine gute Balance zwischen gehaltvoller Homophonie und sanfter Kontrapunktik gelingt.

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

Daw cân bum-rhan Byrd, sef O God, give ear and do apply o Psalms, Sonets, and songs of Sadnes and Pietie (1588), ond mae’n bosibl iddi gael ei chyfansoddi’n wreiddiol fel cân gonsort. Gosododd bedair stanza gyntaf Salm 55 a llwyddo i greu cydbwysedd gofalus rhwng homoffoni cyfoethog ac ysgrifennu gwrthbwyntiol hynaws.

David Evans © 2009
Cymraeg: Helen Smith

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