Some listeners may remember Paul Hillier’s Byrd recording of 10 years ago for ECM, featuring the “four-part” Mass, some motets, and a few works by other composers. For that project he utilized only four singers (he sang the baritone/bass part himself) and the result, while reasonably acceptable on most counts, revealed the dangers of performing such texturally transparent, harmonically rich music with anything less than perfectly matched voices. The only problems with those performances centered on the seemingly unblendable countertenor of Drew Minter and somewhat less on the breathing and phrasing challenges presented by the music’s often very long lines.
There are no such problems here. Hillier effectively uses his 16-voice ensemble, the outstanding Copenhagen-based Vocal group ARS NOVA, to illuminate Byrd’s eminently singable Latin and English texts, preserving internal balances while reveling in the more exultant melodic expressions and luxurious harmonies. Like Bach, Byrd was a master at creating extended melodic/harmonic structures, and these singers generally supply the necessary energy to sustain the dynamism of masterpieces such as Infelix ego and Tristitia et anxietas and lesser but no less compelling pieces such as Sing joyfully and O Lord, make thy servant Elisabeth. In a couple of the longer works–Salve regina and Tristitia et anxietas–vitality and intonation sag just a little; but overall, these are Byrd performances to savor and celebrate. The sound gives appropriate space and clarity to the voices and places the listener in ideal proximity to the singers. [5/14/2003]
