to the question of a quartet singing this..... if you look into the secretive (yet fervent) expectation of it's celebration (at Mass) under H8 and the Anglican Church-zis, this would have been part of a hidden service, LUCKY to have 4 strong voices, and written simply, yet plaintively, to contribute where it COULD. (yes, you can do it. I play it with 4 brass instruments).
@AndrosRex That's true, but I think their term "voices" meant what we understand as parts today. So instead of it just being meant for four voices, I think it was meant for four parts, with as many people as you like singing each part!
These are not movements. They are the parts of a Mass. Back then, as far as I can tell, they did not write these pieces for a bunch of people in a concert hall to hear, but to go in the appropriate parts of a Mass. It hacks me off when people go nuts for this music, but remain clueless as to why these guys wrote it, and why it was so good. This is a Mass. You can probably find one near you, even if they only mutter " Lord have mercy " &c. together. These are not movements.
@AndrosRex At the time this was written in England it was illegal to be a catholic. It was written to be sung in secret masses in people basements. To practice mass was an offense that was punishable by imprisonment. That's why the arrangement is so small, it was only intended for 4 singers
I love Byrd. Brings me an expectional feeling only rivaled by J.S. Bach.
RemovdSande11 5 months ago 4
@RemovdSande11 So true. Same here.
mmenchu 1 month ago
@mmenchu Palestrina gets a bit close too!
mmenchu 1 month ago
to the question of a quartet singing this..... if you look into the secretive (yet fervent) expectation of it's celebration (at Mass) under H8 and the Anglican Church-zis, this would have been part of a hidden service, LUCKY to have 4 strong voices, and written simply, yet plaintively, to contribute where it COULD. (yes, you can do it. I play it with 4 brass instruments).
steambrewer 5 months ago
Beautiful. Can this Mass (or at least this Kyrie) be sung by just four people, or would we need more?
Doctorwho798 7 months ago
@Doctorwho798 I think four strong singers can do it. Works four X voices are usually sung by more than X singers so that it sounds better.
AndrosRex 7 months ago
@AndrosRex That's true, but I think their term "voices" meant what we understand as parts today. So instead of it just being meant for four voices, I think it was meant for four parts, with as many people as you like singing each part!
UKoutoftheEUSSR 1 month ago
Andrew Carwood and Nick= Killer Tenor Section!
renaissance27 7 months ago
On no! They didn't pay the power bill!
mrwarhol 8 months ago
These are not movements. They are the parts of a Mass. Back then, as far as I can tell, they did not write these pieces for a bunch of people in a concert hall to hear, but to go in the appropriate parts of a Mass. It hacks me off when people go nuts for this music, but remain clueless as to why these guys wrote it, and why it was so good. This is a Mass. You can probably find one near you, even if they only mutter " Lord have mercy " &c. together. These are not movements.
AndrosRex 11 months ago 3
@AndrosRex Thank you so much Sir for the information, i'll correct it right away
MusicPortray 11 months ago
@MusicPortray Thank you kindly. Sorry my note was so bombastic. Very gracious of you.
AndrosRex 7 months ago
@AndrosRex I don't understand why you differenciate those terms. "Movements" are "parts" of a single work, aren't they ?
Sekhmetouserapis 4 months ago
@AndrosRex At the time this was written in England it was illegal to be a catholic. It was written to be sung in secret masses in people basements. To practice mass was an offense that was punishable by imprisonment. That's why the arrangement is so small, it was only intended for 4 singers
MrMixWhelan 3 weeks ago
sang this with my own choir in St. Peters Basilica in Rome, and i really enjoy all of the movements
seeley97 11 months ago
I thought I recognized Donald Grieg!
epn10 1 year ago
@epn10
Donald Creig is in the video description. Is this a typo? Or is Grieg a different fellow?
downstube 11 months ago
The farther back I go in music history the more glorious the music seems; this is no exception.
billyguns2 1 year ago 10
So beautiful!
dearmalika 2 years ago 3
Amo questa Messa di Byrd. Adoro i Tallis Scholars
Cassone37010 2 years ago 5