The Word Unspoken: Sacred Music by William Byrd and Philippe de Monte (2012)

performed by Gallicantus
composed by Philippe de Monte, William Byrd

The small English group Gallicantus, all adults and all male save female sopranos, specializes in music of the late Renaissance and often does beautifully with its intense, inward quality. The program here is an unusual one, but it makes a great choice for new listeners who are trying to tune their ears to the styles of different Renaissance composers. The pairing of William Byrd and Philippe de Monte is odd at first glance: Byrd usually appears in a purely English context, and de Monte is quite rarely performed. It turns ... Read More

The small English group Gallicantus, all adults and all male save female sopranos, specializes in music of the late Renaissance and often does beautifully with its intense, inward quality. The program here is an unusual one, but it makes a great choice for new listeners who are trying to tune their ears to the styles of different Renaissance composers. The pairing of William Byrd and Philippe de Monte is odd at first glance: Byrd usually appears in a purely English context, and de Monte is quite rarely performed. It turns out that they had a personal connection: de Monte met Byrd when he visited England in 1554 as part of a Spanish royal retinue, and he later personally sent Byrd a copy of the gorgeous eight-part motet Super flumina Babylonis (By the waters of Babylon) recorded here. The motet's little introductory section, setting a somber mood, is beautifully rendered in this setting. The meaning would have been clear to Byrd, who by later in the century had to hide out to perform Catholic music,... Read Less