William Byrd – Masses for 3, 4, and 5 voices

William Byrd: Messes à 3, 4 et 5 voix The Deller Consort
Harmonia Mundi « Musique d'Abord » HMA 43 211 [cass.]
Harmonia Mundi « Musique d'Abord » HMA 190 211 [CD]

Excerpts:
[1]-[6] Harmonia Mundi « Deller Recordings » DR 211 [LP] William Byrd – Messe à 3 voix / Motets
[7]-[11] Harmonia Mundi « Deller Recordings » DR 212 [LP] William Byrd – Messe à 4 voix / Motets
[12]-[17] Harmonia Mundi « Deller Recordings » DR 213 [LP] William Byrd – Messe à 5 voix / Motets
[1]-[11] Vanguard « The Bach Guild – Historical Antholgy of Music » HM 6 SD [LP] William Byrd – Mass for 3 and 4 voices
[12]-[17] Vanguard « The Bach Guild – Historical Antholgy of Music » HM 7 SD [LP] William Byrd – Mass for 5 voices / Motets from Gradualia

Recording dates: 1968, 1970; re-released: 1989

This is an older recording of the pioneering Deller Consort, re-released at mid-price. There are several recordings available of the Byrd masses, but this is a relatively "straight" performance that has held up well, showing Deller at his best. The three masses are sung one-to-a-part.

Byrd's masses are among his simpler choral compositions, but are quite popular. They have a classic ease about them. A few other popular recordings:

Byrd: The Three Masses: Tallis Scholars - Peter Phillips
Gimell 454 945
Byrd Edition - 5: The Three Masses
The Cardinall's Musick - Andrew Carwood & David Skinner
AS&V Gaudeamus 206
Byrd: Masses: Hilliard Ensemble - Paul Hillier
EMI Reflexe 63441
Byrd: The Three Masses: Pro Arte Singers - Paul Hillier
Harmonia Mundi USA 907223
Byrd: The Three Masses for Five, Four and Three Voices: Parthenia XVI - Mary Jane Newman
Centaur 2471
Byrd: Mass / Motets: Taverner: Sacred Music
Pro Cantione Antiqua - Bruno Turner & Mark Brown
AS&V Quicksilva 6132
Byrd: Mass for Four Voices: w/ Edwards / Sheppard / Tallis
Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier
ECM New Series 21512
Byrd: Masses for 4 & 5 voices: The Sixteen - Harry Christophers
Virgin Veritas Edition 562 013 (2 CDs)
Byrd: Masses for 4 & 5 Voices: Oxford Camerata - Jeremy Summerly
Naxos 8.550574
Byrd: 3 Masses / Taverner: Mass "The Western Wind": King's College Choir, Cambridge - David Willcocks
London 452 170
Byrd: Mass for five voices: Winchester Cathedral Choir - David Hill
Hyperion 66837
Renaissance Masterpiece Volume I - England: Byrd & Tallis
The Choir of New College, Oxford - Edward Higginbottom
Collins Classics 1487

A large collection including them:

English Choral Music: 1514-1682: Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford - Stephen Darlington
Nimbus 1762 (8 CDs)

Some related recordings by the Deller Consort:

Byrd: Cantiones Sacrae (1575): Deller Consort - Mark Deller
Harmonia Mundi musique d'abord 1901053
HMV Recordings, 1949-1954: Alfred Deller
EMI Références 65501

Other recordings on which the present performances also appear, as compiled by Pierre-F. Roberge:
Excerpts -
[1]-[6] Deller Recordings DR 211 [LP] William Byrd - Messe à trois voix & Motets
[1]-[11] Vanguard "The Bach Guild" Historical Anthology of Music HM 6 SD [LP] William Byrd - Mass for 3 and 4 voices
[7]-[11] Deller Recordings DR 211 [LP] William Byrd - Messe à quatre voix & Motets
[12]-[17] Deller Recordings DR 213 [LP] William Byrd - Messe à cinq voix & Motets
[12]-[17] William Byrd - Mass for 5 voices & Motets from Gradualia
Compilations -
Deller Recordings DR 210/11 [LPx2] William Byrd - Messe à trois, quatre et cinq voix & Motets
Harmonia mundi HM 211/13 [LPx3] William Byrd - Messe à trois, quatre et cinq voix & Motets

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To FAQ references to this recording.

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Todd M. McComb

William Byrd – Masses for 3, 4, and 5 voices

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