In review--Soaring Heights
The Byrd Ensemble (Seattle) Our Lady (Music from the Peterhouse Partbooks) Scribe Records The Tudor period represented a traumatic time in English history. We are reminded of the vengeance of Henry VIII against not only his wives (plural, he had 6 of them), but also against the Catholic Church. During his reign monasteries were sacked and musical composers displaced unless they could adapt to composing for the protestant church. Somehow these Catholic compositions on Our Lady were saved for posterity. The church music of this time (renaissance) featured polyphonic and monophonic vocals. One of the most famous composers of this period of English history was Thomas Tallis, who greatly inspired both the Seattle-based The Byrd Ensemble and the Tudor Choir. While I’ve reviewed recordings by The Tudor Choir, Our Lady is the first recording I’m reviewing by The Byrd Ensemble (formerly The Renaissance Singers). I’m out of touch...