Byrd 1589 - Songs of sundrie natures

Alamire, Fretwork, Skinner, David

INV 1011

Following the critically acclaimed album of Byrd’s 1588 collection, Alamire returns with the completion of their survey of the early song collections with the 1589 Collection, in this, the composer’s 400th anniversary year.

Alamire is joined by viol consort Fretwork and director David Skinner.

• Byrd’s first song collection was published in 1588. In following year he writes that he had ‘bene encouraged thereby, to take further paines therein, and to make the pertaker thereof, because I would shew my selfe gratefull to thee for thy loue, and desirous to delight thee with varietie, whereof (in my opinion) no Science is more plentifully adorned then Musicke.’ This 1589 collection, therefore, offers songs of 3, 4, 5 and 6 parts, ‘to serue for all companies and voyces: whereof some are easie and plaine to sing, [while] other more hard and dificult.’

Byrd clearly sought to be as inclusive as possible for all musicians, amateur and professional. With the 1589 collection, Byrd’s complete early song collections are now committed to recording. Together they provide a variety themes and textures, as well as vocal and instrumental combinations, demonstrating the richness of Elizabethan courtly music.

Works:

•Byrd: An earthly tree
• Byrd: And think ye nymphs
• Byrd: Attend Mine Humble Prayer
• Byrd: Behold how good a thing
• Byrd: Christ rising again from the dead
• Byrd: Compel the hawk
• Byrd: From Citheron the warlike boy
• Byrd: From depth of sin
• Byrd: From virgin's womb this day did spring
• Byrd: I Thought That Love Had Been A Boy
• Byrd: If in thine heart
• Byrd: Is love a boy?
• Byrd: Lord hear my prayer
• Byrd: Lord in thy rage
• Byrd: Lord in thy wrath
• Byrd: O dear life, when may it be
• Byrd: O God which art most merciful
• Byrd: O Lord my God
• Byrd: Of gold all burnished
• Byrd: Penelope that longed
• Byrd: Right blest are they
• Byrd: See those sweet eyes
• Byrd: Susanna fair
• Byrd: The greedy hawk
• Byrd: The nightingale so pleasant
• Byrd: Unto the hills mine eyesI lift
• Byrd: Upon a summer's day
• Byrd: Weeping full sore
• When first by force
• Byrd: When I was otherwise
• Byrd: When younglings first on Cupid
• Byrd: While that the sun
• Byrd: Who made thee Hob forsake the plough?
• Brd: Wounded I am

CD x 2

Inventa Records

2023-05-04

5060262793503