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WILLIAM BYRDSecond Service & Consort Anthems
FRETWORK
Rogers Covey-Crump tenor
Bill Ives director
THE CHOIR OF MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORDStefan Roberts treble • Ryan Leonard organ
W o r l d W i d e r e l e a s e s e P T e M B e r 2 0 0 7
Worldwide Release September 2007
In Magdalen College Choir’s second collabora-tion with the viol consort Fretwork, music director Bill Ives explores the rich Anglican repertoire of William Byrd (c. 1540-1623). Well-known and much admired choral anthems such as “Prevent us, O Lord,” “O Lord make thy servant, Elizabeth” and the glorious “Carroll for New-yeares day” alternate here with chamber works for organ, viols, and solo tenor [Rogers Covey-Crump]. Recorded in Magdalen College Chapel, Oxford, the program includes new reconstructions by Dr David Skinner of the Second Service, and a near-lost verse anthem in praise of Oriana herself, Queen Elizabeth I.
A L S O A V A I L A B L E
2007 harmonia mundi usa / HMU-FLY60078 Design: Scarlett Freund
www.harmoniamundi.comU.S. Publicity Contact: Sarah Folger
A second collaboration between two superb English ensembles: Fretwork and The Choir of Magdalen College directed by Bill Ives celebrate the genius of William Byrd.
GIBBONS With a Merrie Noyse Fretwork
the choir of magdalen college, oxford Bill Ives, dir.
“Dramatic, rhapsodic... Revelatory. The soloists, particularly Rogers Covey-Crump, match the choir’s dramatic intensity with a
metrical freedom and effulgent tone.” ★★★★★
– BBC MusiC Magazine
A Catholic composer who managed to navigate the political
and religious shoals of the Reformation, Byrd had a genius
for writing music that supported the natural flow of the
words, and he left behind not only a surprising wealth of Latin
pieces but also works in English that form the heart of Anglican
musical tradition. He wrote for church and court and home; for
able amateurs and the most technically gifted professionals,
set psalms and sonnets, composed virtuosic works for key-
board (two of his organ Fantasias are include here) and complex
consortmusic,including seven settings of the In nomine, three of
which are included here.
Founded in 1480, The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford, still
sings daily services. In addition to the traditional repertoire, the
group has worked regularly with the film composer George Fenton
(“Shadowlands,” “Deep Blue”) and in November 2006 took part in
the London première of Paul McCartney’s classical piece, “Ecce Cor
Meum,” written especially for the Choir. Magdalen College Choir
and Fretwork record for harmonia mundi; their 2004 release,
With A Merrie Noyse, was nominated for a Grammy, with BBC Music
Magazine referring to its “perfectly paced dynamics and flawless
ensemble.” In addition to directing the choir, Bill Ives – currently
Informator Choristarum (Director of Music) at Magdalen College,
Oxford – has retained a special interest in composing and arranging
since childhood. Liturgical choral music forms the majority of his
output and he publishes regularly (as Grayston Ives). Fretwork is
noted for its “sensitive, nuanced performances” (Strings), and “easy-
going virtuosity” (The New York Times).
HMU 907337
grammy Nomination 2005
HMU 907440 / 71:05
WILLIAM BYRD The Second Service & Consort Anthems
Fretworkthe Choir of
Magdalen College, oxford Bill Ives, Dir.
ryan Leonard, organ Stefan roberts, treble
rogers Covey-Crump, tenor Aa93046c&$$)@VL
