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.
Ave verum corpus
composer
4vv; Gradualia I (1605)
author of text
Hymn to the Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Christi
Gradualia includes the four-voice motet Ave verum corpus, which sets words specified in the Catholic liturgy for use on the feast of Corpus Christi. Today no composition by Byrd is performed and recorded more often than this one, partly because it is such a gem, partly because it offers such rich opportunities for expressive singing, and partly because it is technically not hard for choirs to sing. Nonetheless this motet, like Byrd’s Masses, attained its popularity only in the modern era; being strictly a Catholic work, it was totally shunned by English church musicians until its revival by Catholic choirs late in the nineteenth century. In an age of greater religious tolerance its popularity quickly spread, and by a pleasing twist of fortune Byrd’s Ave verum corpus is now a staple not only of Catholic choral worship, but of Anglican too. Ave verum corpus at Evensong: again, Byrd would have been amazed.
from notes by John Milsom © 2014
Le cycle de Gradualia comprend le motet à quatre voix Ave verum corpus, qui met en musique le texte que la liturgie catholique assigne à la fête de Corpus Christi. De nos jours, aucune composition de Byrd n’est plus jouée, plus enregistrée que celle-ci—il faut dire que c’est un joyau, se prêtant abondamment au chant expressif, et qui n’est pas techniquement trop difficile pour les chœurs. Néanmoins, comme les messes de Byrd, ce motet ne fut pas populaire avant l’époque moderne; strictement catholique, il fut totalement boudé par les musiciens d’église anglais jusqu’à sa résurrection par des chœurs catholiques, à la fin du XIXe siècle. Dans cet âge de plus grande tolérance religieuse, il gagna rapidement en popularité et, par un plaisant coup du sort, il fait désormais partie intégrante du culte choral et catholique, et anglican. Un Ave verum corpus à l’Evensong: là encore, Byrd en eût été stupéfait.
extrait des notes rédigées par John Milsom © 2014
Français: Hypérion
In den Gradualia findet sich die vierstimmige Motette Ave verum corpus, in der der Text vertont ist, der in der katholischen Liturgie für Fronleichnam vorgegeben ist. Heute wird kein Werk Byrds öfter aufgeführt und eingespielt als dieses—einerseits ist es ein besonders gelungenes Werk, andererseits bietet sich hier reichlich Gelegenheit für expressiven Gesang und schließlich ist der technische Anspruch für den Chor nicht sonderlich hoch. Trotzdem ist diese Motette, ebenso wie die Messen Byrds, erst in der modernen Zeit so populär geworden; als ausgewiesen katholisches Werk wurde es von den Kirchenmusikern Englands gemieden, bis katholische Chöre es im späten 19. Jahrhundert wieder in ihr Repertoire aufnahmen. In einem Zeitalter größerer religiöser Toleranz erfreute sich dieses Werk zusehends großer Beliebtheit und dank einer erfreulichen Wendung in der Geschichte ist das Ave verum corpus heute nicht nur ein Standardwerk der katholischen, sondern auch der anglikanischen Chorliteratur. Ave verum corpus beim Evensong: Byrd wäre auch darüber überaus erstaunt gewesen.
aus dem Begleittext von John Milsom © 2014
Deutsch: Viola Scheffel
Recordings
 All in the April EveningCDH55243  ‘It's a delightful disc … if there was a 'Critics' Fancy' it would be there sure enough’ (Gramophone) ‘This is a delightfully nostalgic trip through English part-singing from the first half of the 20th century. The programme is deftly chosen and Laudib ...» More |
 Byrd & Britten: Choral worksStudio Master: SIGCD481Download onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available  Jesus College Choir continues its much-praised series of recordings with a new album of works by Britten and Byrd.» More |
 Byrd: Ave verum corpus & other sacred musicCSCD507Download only  This recording presents a selection of fifteen of the 150 or so Latin motets and three of the dozens of English anthems that, between them, form the larger part of the life’s work of William Byrd (1543-1623), the greatest English composer of his e ...» More |
 Byrd: Mass for five voicesCDH55348 Recorded in the magnificent acoustic of Winchester Cathedral, this is a welcome revisiting of one of Byrd’s crowning musical achievements, his beautiful third and final setting of the Mass, an unashamedly Catholic celebration of the Feast of Corpu ...» More |
 Byrd: MotetsStudio Master: KGS0024-DDownload onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available  Eighteen of William Byrd's most perfect motets illuminate a journey through the Church's year in the company of perhaps the world's most famous choir.» More |
 Byrd: Playing Elizabeth's TuneGIMDN902This album is not available for download  NTSC FORMAT DVD. Filmed performances of sacred music by William Byrd together with a documentary on the troubled times that produced some of the most intimate and passionate sacred music ever written.» More |
 Byrd: Playing Elizabeth's TuneGIMDP901This album is not available for download PAL FORMAT DVD. Filmed performances of sacred music by William Byrd together with a documentary on the troubled times that produced some of the most intimate and passionate sacred music ever written.» More |
 Byrd: Playing Elizabeth's TuneGIMSA592This album is not available for download SACD. Peter Phillips directs The Tallis Scholars in sacred music by William Byrd, recorded while filming for the BBC in Tewkesbury Abbey.» More |
 Byrd: Playing Elizabeth's TuneStudio Master: CDGIM992Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available Peter Phillips directs The Tallis Scholars in sacred music by William Byrd, recorded while filming for the BBC in Tewkesbury Abbey.» More |
 Byrd: The Tallis Scholars sing William ByrdCDGIM2082CDs for the price of 1 "England has never produced a greater composer than William Byrd. His music for the Anglican Church has been sung without interruption since the 16th century. In stark contrast his Catholic music was not heard for over 300 years. This specially pr ...» More |
 Byrd: The three MassesCDGIM345 The original release on CD of this classic recording of the three Masses by William Byrd.» More |
 Byrd: The three MassesStudio Master: CDA68038Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available A new recording of the most perfect of Tudor masterpieces, Byrd’s three Mass-settings, from the cradle of their nineteenth-century rehabilitation. Westminster Cathedral Choir is enjoying a vintage period, and here we hear its trademark sound in al ...» More |
 Exultate DeoCDA66850 ‘The answer to many prayers; a blockbusting survey of choral masterpieces performed by a choir of exceptional calibre’ (Classic FM Magazine) ‘For anyone eager to sample varied music from the Golden Age of polyphony this is a perfect disc’ (Classic CD)» More |
 Faire is the HeavenCOLCD107Download only Drawn from three key periods: the Reformation, the Restoration and the Anglican revival, here are 23 motets and anthems, sung in the beautiful acoustic of the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral.» More |
 Great Cathedral AnthemsStudio Master: SIGCD514Download onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available Infusing the hallowed spaces of Canterbury Cathedral with their singing for the first time in 2014, the Girls here join the Men of the Cathedral Choir in a sequence of anthems from Tallis and Byrd to Howells and Leighton.» More |
 Naked Byrd, Vol. 1SIGCD180Download only Crossing several centuries, from the sixteenth to the present day this album displays how every generation has been inspired to use both sacred and secular music as a powerful medium to express their personal emotions.» More |
 Sacred Music in the Renaissance, Vol. 1GIMBX301Boxed set (at a special price) — Download only The first of three volumes featuring The Tallis Scholars' finest recordings, one for each decade, and each offering over five hours of the award-winning performances that helped establish Renaissance Polyphony as one of the great repertoires of we ...» More |
 The music of Westminster Cathedral ChoirWCC100Super-budget price sampler 'A wonderful programme. Westminster Cathedral Choir excite, enthral and electrify under both James O'Donnell and his predecessor David Hill. It would make an ideal gift for any lover of the tradition' (Cathedral Music) 'Bargain of the month' ( ... » More |
Details
