Early Latin Church Music II Propers for Christmas Day
(William Byrd)

The second disc in the series and the second to be devoted to music unpublished during Byrd’s lifetime. This shows the early Byrd with two short three-part Alleluyas as well as a real rarity. A setting of In exitu Israel where three composers (John Sheppard, William Mundy and Byrd) have each contributed a set of verses. Sheppard emerges as the older composer but young Mundy and Byrd each produce exquisite writing.

This disc culminates in the monumental eight-part setting of Ad Dominum cum tribularer and at the centre of the disc are eight motets from the 1607 Gradualia representing Byrd’s contributions to the feast of Christmas.

This is a disc to rejoice Byrd lovers everywhere. GRAMOPHONE

CD Listing

1.	Ave regina caelorum (a5)	[4.33]
2.	O salutaris hostia	[2.44]
3.	Alleluya. Confitemini Domino	[1.21]
4.	In exitu Israel	[17.23]
5.	Puer natus est nobis	[4.44]
6.	Viderunt omnes (I) + Dies sanctificatus	[3.16]
7.	Tui sunt caeli	[1.18]
8.	Viderunt omnes (II)	[1.00]
9.	Hodie Christus natus est	[2.13]
10.	O admirabile commertium	[3.17]
11.	O magnum mysterium	[4.44]
12.	Decantabat populus	[2.57]
13.	Alleluya. Laudate pueri	[1.28]
14.	Deus in adjutorium	[10.12]
15.	Ad Dominum cum tribularer	[10.02]