Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.

Hyperion offers both CDs, and downloads in a number of formats. The site is also available in several languages.

Please use the dropdown buttons to set your preferred options, or use the checkbox to accept the defaults.

Click cover art to view larger version
Track(s) taken from CDA67937

This day Christ was born 'A Carroll for Christmas Day'

composer
Psalmes, Songs and Sonnets … fit for Voyces or Viols, 1611, xxvii; SSATTB
author of text
Magnificat Antiphon at Second Vespers of Christmas 'Hodie Christus natus est', in an anonymous translation

The Cardinall's Musick, Andrew Carwood (conductor)
Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available
CD-Quality:
Studio Master:
CD-Quality:
Studio Master:
Recording details: November 2011
Fitzalan Chapel, Arundel Castle, United Kingdom
Produced by Jonathan Freeman-Attwood
Engineered by Martin Haskell & Iestyn Rees
Release date: October 2012
Total duration: 2 minutes 33 seconds

Cover artwork: Portrait of Elizabeth I (The Armada Portrait) in the manner of George Gower (1540-1596).
Private Collection / Photo © Philip Mould Ltd, London / Bridgeman Images
 

Reviews

‘The singing is neat, clear and fluid, with beautifully elastic phrasing from the two tenors. The Nunc dimittis provides the sweetest moments in the Great Service itself’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘The 10 voices of the Cardinall's Musick launch into the opening of Byrd's The Great Service—'O come, let us sing unto the Lord'—with a soaring joyfulness and clarity that sustains throughout this large-scale and elaborate work. Andrew Carwood and his group have won countless accolades for their series of Byrd's Latin sacred music. In this Anglican work, they achieve the same outstanding level of musicianship. The (female) sopranos have strength and purity at the top but an effective lightness, too, closer to the sound of boy trebles. The full ensemble tone is bold and energetic’ (The Observer)

‘This new recording is something special. Whether it's because of the sheer experience of having sung so much of Byrd's music as to have assimilated his musical language utterly, or whether it's simply the raw musicianship and cultivated intelligence of the performers, there's a clarity and intensity in each verse that is spine-tingling … here, as elsewhere, the latent energy of the words as made manifest in Byrd's setting is realized with the kind of skill and conviction that moves rather than simply amazes. Which is, I guess, the point of religious music’ (International Record Review)
This day Christ was born is a paraphrase of the Christmas antiphon Hodie Christus natus est and is scored for six voices which gives added brilliance through the use of two treble parts. Two sections in triplets give this piece an infectious rhythm.

from notes by Andrew Carwood © 2012

This day Christ was born, une paraphrase de l’antienne de Noël Hodie Christus natus est, est à six voix, dont deux parties de treble lui conférant un supplément d’éclat; et deux sections en triolets amènent un rythme contagieux.

extrait des notes rédigées par Andrew Carwood © 2012
Français: Hypérion

This day Christ was born ist eine Paraphrase der weihnachtlichen Antiphon Hodie Christus natus est und ist für sechs Stimmen angelegt, was durch den Einsatz zweier Treble-Stimmen besonders brillant klingt. Hier verleihen zwei Triolenpassagen dem Stück einen ansteckenden Rhythmus.

aus dem Begleittext von Andrew Carwood © 2012
Deutsch: Viola Scheffel

Waiting for content to load...
Waiting for content to load...