Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

With 2023 being the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd there has been a flurry of new recordings and re-releases to remind us of his greatness. This double CD release manages to cover both options as it includes the first digital release of a 1981 recording of his 'Great Service'. And there's the rub. After four centuries is there anything new to say about William Byrd? A quick look at your preferred guide to classical music, whether printed or digital, will show you just how much of Byrd's output is readily available. The bulk of the collection under review is a recreation of the Catholic Mass for the Feast of Corpus Christi as Byrd might have experienced it in the late 16th century. It includes various Latin motets written by Byrd for the feast, along with the remarkable Mass setting in four parts. The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys is one of the leading ensembles of its kind in the Anglican choral tradition in the USA although I suspect this might be a limited market. Be that as it may, the vocal blend is good, the singing clear, and while there may be other recordings available this is more than adequate. Interestingly, both choirs, the earlier 1981 version under Gerre Hancock and the 2023 edition under Jeremy Filsell, sound remarkably similar. I do not know whether this was a conscious decision by Filsell to replicate the Hancock choir's sound or the Saint Thomas sound passing from one generation to the next but if you are worried that there will be a clashing of gears, so to speak, as we move back in time from 2023 to 1981 it is pretty much seamless. This is a well thought out project, the singing is first rate and the recording quality is clear and bright. My first caveat is that parts of the main service do not bear repetition and I expect on future plays I will have one finger on the skip button. My second caveat I hinted at above: all of the good stuff is already available, often from a choice of different choirs and locations, and purchasers will need to check before buying in case you end up with some unnecessary duplicates in your collection.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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