Singers: Patrick Dunachie (countertenor), Edward Button (countertenor), Julian Gregory (tenor), Christopher Bruerton (baritone), Nick Ashby (baritone), Jonathan Howard (bass)Musicians: Fretwork Viol Consort
William Byrd and Thomas Weelkes died in 1623, Byrd in his ninth decade, Weelkes barely half that. Eighteen works, mainly secular in nature and several relatively unknown today, are presented here, along with two inspired new compositions from Roderick Williams and James MacMillan following in the tradition of the musical elegy. The beguiling intertwining of voices and viols throughout the programme remains as potent today as it must have been four centuries ago.
Track Listing
- Praise our Lord, all ye Gentiles William Byrd
- If women could be fair William Byrd
- Say dear, when will your frowning leave Thomas Weelkes
- Like two proud armies Thomas Weelkes
- Pavan No 3 Thomas Weelkes
- Thule, the period of cosmography Thomas Weelkes
- What joy so true Thomas Weelkes
- In nomine a 4 Thomas Weelkes
- Ye sacred Muses William Byrd
- Ye sacred Muses James MacMillan (Premiere recording)
- In nomine I a 5 Thomas Weelkes
- Hark! all ye lovely saints Thomas Weelkes
- Death hath deprived me Thomas Weelkes
- Death be not proud Roderick Williams (Premiere recording)
- In nomine II a 5 Thomas Weelkes
- Who made thee Hob? William Byrd
- This sweet and merry month of May William Byrd
- Browning a 5 'The leaves be green' William Byrd
- Alack, when I look back William Byrd
- O Lord, make thy servant Elizabeth William Byrd