The Honour of William Byrd (Helen Charlston)
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Genre:
Vocal
Label: BIS
Magazine Review Date: 10/2023
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 75
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: BIS2663
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Ah, silly soul |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Psalmes, Sonets and Songs, Movement: All as a sea |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Psalmes, Sonets and Songs, Movement: Blessed is he that fears the Lord |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Psalmes, Sonets and Songs, Movement: Come to me, grief, for ever |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Fantasia a 5, C(Canon 2 in 1) |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
(The) leaves be greene |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Fantasia a 6, G minor No. 1 |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Fantasia a 6, G minor No. 2 |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
In Nomine a 4 No. 1 |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
O Lord make thy servant Elizabeth |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Rejoice unto the Lord |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Sellinger's Round |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
The sweet and merry month of May |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Thou poet’s friend |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Why do I use my paper, ink and pen? |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
With lilies white |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Wretched Albinus |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Ye sacred muses |
William Byrd, Composer
Chelys Consort of Viols Helen Charlston, Mezzo soprano |
Author: David Fallows
A collection of Byrd consort songs with Helen Charlston has been a major desideratum since she first hit the headlines – really only about two years ago. She can give life to a line like few others; her diction is marvellous, and marvellously varied; everything flows with incomparable beauty. And what we have here is a tribute to Byrd on the fourth centenary of his death: a lovely selection of some of his finest songs interspersed with a well-chosen selection of his music for viol consort. This is all assembled with care and discrimination, and simply listening through the disc is an unalloyed pleasure. There is also a spirited and readable note by Alison Kinder, one of the players.
Not that this is the perfect issue, however. There is a slight dislocation between Charlston’s energetic singing and the thoroughly restrained performance of the viols: she is considerably louder and with far more vibrato in her voice. And she is occasionally challenged by the lowest pitches at the low pitch-standard of A=415. There are also occasional unclear moments among the inner viols: quicker notes can get swallowed up, especially in the up-speed reading of the five-voice ‘Browning’ variations (there are quicker versions, but even this tempo rather short-changes the music). In fact I suppose I prefer a more articulated reading in general for the viol consorts. But in terms of what the musicians are aiming to do, they do it very well indeed.
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