‘Hugely successful … Herrick's performance of the Praeludium … is packed with personality and character … the freedom with which Herrick approaches this piece and the extent to which is it possible to hear the performer's voice, as well as that of the composer, projected in this performance, cannot be described as anything other than exhilarating … Herrick's playing is characteristically excellent throughout. His performances of the free works are, without exception, rhetorically engaging and lively, while the chorale melodies sing beautifully, such is his sensitive approach to musical line … very highly recommended’ (International Record Review)

‘A simply splendid album. The organ … is a delight to the ears, its manifest charms precisely mapped out in detailed registrations provided in the excellent booklet … above all, of course, is Herrick's immensely enjoyable playing … all in all a delight to the ears which brings a smile to the face and a lift to the soul’ (Gramophone)

'These are good performances of two British composers by noth choirs of Jesus College, Cambridge. The College Choir, which uses female undergraduate singers, gains the edge over the choristers in a focused, sparkling performance of Byrd's 'Laudibus in sanctis'' (BBC Music Magazine)

‘The Cardinall's Musick continues its odyssey through Byrd's vocal output … the singing here is clean and balanced, with no attempt to make women's voices resemble those of boys’ (The Sunday Times)

‘Carwood has given us a series of Byrd recordings that will be a monument when he has finished, and this is a worthy part of the series… don’t wait to add this to our collection’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘Sublime music, then, an inspired and inspiring director and a series that Hyperion rescued from another label and has persevered with against all odds’ (International Record Review)

‘The Cardinall's Musick under Andrew Carwood show the deep feeling as well as the dignity of these illicit and originally secret settings’ (The Independent on Sunday)

‘Some of the three-part hymns are masterly in their technical assurance, setting the voices free to wander and with the lightness of touch recalling them to the fold for a cadence … exquisitely wrought … to the singers and their director is due an additional hymn of praise’ (Gramophone)

‘Some of Byrd's best writing, with complex imitation enlived by madrigal-style word settings. The Cardinall's Musick seize on the subtleties and expressiveness of these settings … the inventiveness and depth of this recording outweigh its rare longeurs’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘These songs are pure heaven: melancholic and moody, sweet and sad, Blaze—supported by the excellent viol consort Concordia (with Elizabeth Kenny providing lute accompaniment)—captures their heart with deceptive ease. A lovely release’ (The Independent)

‘Blaze is on superb form in this recording, his clear, unpretentious sound an ideal partner for Concordia … very satisfying it is too. Any chance of more of the same, Hyperion?’ (International Record Review)

‘Just for fun I listened to all nine Alleluia settings one after the other and was astonished at the variety and interest of the music … Byrd at his most impressive and sublime here in the glorious Nunc Dimittis and in the delicate intricacy of Optimam partem. The recording and performances are superb’ (BBC Music Magazine Top 1000 CDs Guide)