The works in this eleventh volume present Byrd the recusant: covering the last year of his fashionable career in London and moving to a quieter life in the Essex countryside. The music is from two sources: the magnificent Cantiones Sacrae of 1591 and the Gradualia from 1607. The seven motets from 1591 show Byrd to be pre-occupied with thoughts of desolation, loss, deprivation and separation – familiar ideas for the recusant Catholic community. A feeling of angst in the music is leavened by a sense of salvation and a glimmer of hope that is the composer’s constant refrain. The Gradualia contains some of the most imaginative, modern-sounding and energetic music that the composer ever wrote.

The disc will appear on the site soon. Read a review here.

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The Cardinall’s Musick won the same award last year for their disc of Thomas Tallis (described in The Daily Telegraph as ‘one of Tallis’s very best 500th birthday presents’), the first time any ensemble has won this award in consecutive years. Added to their award in 1995 for the music of Robert Fayrfax, this brings the Cardinall’s Musick’s tally of Gramophone Awards to three, a feat only once previously achieved (by Gothic Voices).

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The recording has been universally acclaimed by the critics, with comments such as:

‘If, according to Burney, the Mannheim orchestra of 1772 was “an army of Generals”, the Cardinall’s Musick of 2006 is surely “an exaltation of larks”. … Performances of exquisite perfection.’ (International Record Review)

‘The 12 voices sing out, individuality intact and ideal for airing the awesome polyphony of Byrd’s Latin motets, both fervent and meditative.’ (The Times)

‘This is the tenth disc in the ensemble’s complete recordings of Byrd, but the first in the series with Hyperion… [The] engineering gains and the artists’ freshness and conviction make this recording a high-water mark in the project. Carwood has captured the passion, delicacy and complexity of England’s greatest Renaissance composer.’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘The grasp that Andrew Carwood and his Cardinall’s Musick group have on Byrd’s scores now seems unassailable; the fluidity and elevated level of internal detail in the opening Laudibus in sanctis sets out their stall for the rest of this thoughtfully conceived album.’ (Choir & Organ Magazine)

‘… Le volume X atteint une variété sonore qui rend justice à tous les registres du programme, jusqu’aux passages madrigalesques les plus échevelés, Apparebit in finem le premier. Toujours à un par voix, brillamment conduits, ces excellents chanteurs magnifient avec autant de maîtrise que d’engagement un immense compositeur. Magistral.’ (Diapason)

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The disc which celebrated the 500th anniverary of the birth of Thomas Tallis presents some of the composer›s finest Latin church music. It was described by The Telegraph as ‘the best 500th birthday present the composer could have’.

‘Andrew Carwood’s recording of some of Tallis’s most beautiful Latin settings captures the passion and devotion of the period. The Cardinall’s Musick sing with a vibrancy that makes Tallis’s musical feats of skilful audacity sound every bit as surprising and exciting as they would have done half a millennium ago.’ Gramophone

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The International Record Review has published a lengthy and glowing review which praises the musicianship of every singer on the disc, mentioning them individually by name. Here is an extract:

‘It is obvious that these singers have a love and passion for this music which transcends mere technical expertise or artistic sensitivity. They clearly relish every interlacing line, every delectable chord and every expressive nuance.

‘The Cardinall’s Musick’s Byrd series is still very much alive and kicking and turning up performances of exquisite perfection.’

Read the full review.

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David Skinner led the way by preparing all of the editions of Ludford, Fayrfax and Cornysh and many others; we are proud to have worked with him on so many projects.

Following a decision to make more Cardinall’s Musick editions available, we are pleased to present the first free download: Derelinquat impius by Thomas Tallis which has been recorded on the group’s 2006 award-winning disc.

Download the edition (100KB PDF).

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Joined at short notice by the soprano Janet Coxwell, the music of Tallis and Byrd was sung to a capacity audience, and plans are already in hand for Christmas 2007.

‘By cleverly varying the pace and making the counterpoint vividly clear, Andrew Carwood created a thrilling cumulative tension.

‘The ending of Tallis’s Salve intemerata virgo was as overwhelming as a Mahler symphony at a tenth of the volume.’ The Daily Telegraph

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In an excellent example of record companies and artists working together, both companies are happy to join forces to complete this exciting landmark series, and a further three discs from Hyperion will complete the Latin Sacred Music of one England’s greatest geniuses.

The music is the first instalment from Byrd’s 1591 Cantiones Sacrae and features another segment of his motets from the 1605 Gradualia. 1591 was an important year for Byrd. It marks the end of an intense period of publications (one volume in 1588, two in 1589 and then one more in 1591) when he must have been re-visiting previous compositions as well as producing new, brilliant, modern sounding motets like Laudibus in sanctis (the title work).

Once again, The Cardinall’s Musick returned to Arundel for the recording sessions, and we are indebted to the Duke of Norfolk for once again allowing us access to this most special of places.

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Not only is this a wonderful way to introduce children to early music within the context of history but it also allows them to experience the true thrill of live music making. Pupils were also taught about conducting and two lucky individuals had the chance to conduct The Cardinall’s Musick with a little help and encouragement from Andrew. We provided music by William Byrd, Michael East, Thomas Weelkes and Richard Dering as we presented both sides of the historical argument and managed to bring the subject of The Gunpowder Plot alive for the hour-long workshop.

Further workshops are planned in Somerset, Hampshire and in London. Once dates have been firmly set, Benefactors and Patrons will be invited to come along and see exactly how successful these events can be.

To learn more visit the Workshops & Education page.

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The Cardinall’s Musick Education Project is designed to share the excitement of live performance with young people, to educate and to entertain. We encourage young people to view music from several perspectives – historical, literary and theological – and to relate the music of the past to information which has already been given to them through the National Curriculum. This also represents an excellent opportunity to hear first-class live music with professional musicians who are able to share their experience and gifts with the students.

Andrew Carwood regularly visits schools, universities and amateur ensembles for workshops, and has coached on residential courses.

To learn more visit the Workshops & Education page.

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The demand, by the Council of Trent, for simplicity in music in order that the words might be heard clearly, placed a serious stumbling block in the path of the development of polyphony in the mid-16th Century.

Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina’s musical mastery and his skill at word setting greatly affected the outcome of this difficult situation. Andrew Carwood discusses these fascinating events with Catherine Bott.

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More information to follow shortly.

See The Cardinall’s Musick artist page at Hyperion.

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