The Golden Renaissance: William Byrd

by Stile Antico

Overview

The 400th anniversary year of William Byrd's death gets off to a roaring start with this collection of mostly Catholic choral music from the small (mixed-gender, adult) choir Stile Antico. This justly celebrated group works without a conductor and is recognized for its flexible and sensitive treatment of texts, even in one as well-worn as that of the Catholic mass. Here, sample the "Qui propter nos homines" section from Credo of the Mass for Four Voices, which runs all the way through Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. There are many performances of this Byrd masterpiece, but few that convey so much of the sense of awe and reverence with which Byrd infused these words. The Mass is broken up, as would have occurred in Byrd's time, with motets appropriate to the various parts of the mass. None of these is particularly rare, but the clarity and warmth of Stile Antico's music-making here is consistently remarkable. There are a few Anglican English pieces, and for listeners who do not speak Latin, these will confirm the group's gifts in clear text articulation. A superb job all around on a release that could serve any listener well as an introduction to Byrd's sacred music and made classical best-seller charts in early 2023. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	02/17/2023
Label:	Decca
UPC:	0028948539512
Rank:	93452

Tracks

1. Retire, My Soul, Consider Thine Estate
2. Gradualia ac cantiones sacrae~Gaudeamus omnes in Domino
3. Mass for Four Voices~Kyrie
4. Mass for Four Voices~Gloria
5. Gradualia ac cantiones sacrae~Propter veritatem - Assumpta est Maria
6. Mass for Four Voices~Credo
7. Gradualia ac cantiones sacrae~Assumpta est Maria
8. Mass for Four Voices~Sanctus - Benedictus
9. Gradualia ac cantiones sacrae~Optimam partem elegit
10. Mass for Four Voices~Agnus Dei
11. Turn Our Captivity, O Lord
12. Praise Our Lord, All Ye Gentiles
13. Laudate Dominum omnes gentes
14. Tribue Domine

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Stile Antico   Primary Artist,Vocal Ensemble

Technical Credits

Henry Crawshay-Williams   Project Manager
Helen Lewis   Executive Producer
Jenny Stewart   Marketing
Trent Van Der Werf   Cover Design
Dave Rowell   Engineer
William Byrd   Composer
Andreas Kuehner   Liner Note Translation
Joanne Baines   A&R
Bradley Michel   Editing
Jeremy Summerly   Recording Producer
Malory Hutin-Balzan   Liner Note Translation
Kerry McCarthy   Liner Notes