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Review by JJ May 20, 2008 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
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However subtle this recording may be, which offers the works of two composers of seemingly dissimilar appearance – William Byrd (c.1540-1623) and Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585), it in fact turns out to be entirely pertinent. As Matthew O’Donovan states in his introductory text: “Tallis’ psalms, composed for a new metric Psalter drawn up by the Archbishop Mathew Parker in 1567, are the very example of the Protestant musical esthetic: strict homophony in the name of the clearness of the (Biblical) texts. Byrd’s motets, composed for refractory Catholics, often put Latin texts with subversively political sub-texts into music. Far from strict, they exalt by fully using all the expressive capacities of choral polyphony, echoing the emotional qualities of the word. […] All of them were composed to be sung by the faithful in the privacy of their home rather than by professional choruses in chapels or churches.” After a remarkable disc also devoted to Tallis, Byrd and Sheppard (see Opus HD N°22), the Stile Antico ensemble once again offers an exemplary interpretation of these admirable pages. Each breath, each inflection, each word is full of life. Add unique and heart-felt vocal colors, and there is no avoiding the listening pleasure. With these nine psalms by Tallis, these motets and the Pentecost Mass by Byrd, this Super Audio CD recorded in pure DSD is a real must have.
Jean-Jacques Millo
Translation Lawrence Schulman
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