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Genre: Classical Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 1-JAN-1999
CD Reviews
A great set !
02/28/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is really wonderful music. I'm not that much a fan of Elizabethan music, and I bought the set on the strength of a couple of glowing reviews and my appreciation of other Moroney recordings. However, the whole package here (performance, instruments, booklet, and the music itself) combine to make this an amazing aesthetic experience. You may not think you need this. You do."
Excellent Set, Authentic perfromance
Sen Peng Eu | Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 06/29/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This wonderful set contains all Byrd's keyboard work, from organ to harpsichord. The playing style of Moroney is greatly correct and neatly fresh. His interpretation of these almost neglected music is wonderful. The touch and the tone of his performance, as well as the ornament, is natural and elegant. This is a must for those who love old keyboard music. The record is excellent too."
Plain And Simple - GET THIS!!!
Douglas S. Halfen | Baltimore, MD, USA | 02/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you're even _looking_ at this set of music, then chances are that you are already enamoured of either it (under the guise of a different performer) or similar early keyboard music. So . . . um . . . what are you waiting for?!? If such a thing as "definitive" Byrd exists on recording --- _this_ is definitive! The instruments (two organs, two harpsichords, a muselar virginal, and a clavichord) are breathtaking --- especially the muselar in "The Battell!" (Yes, the poor thing's a little clackety, but --- holy cow!! You'll hear what I mean.) And Moroney's technique does complete and utter justice to the music. I remember futzing my way through _The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book_ and _My Ladye Nevell's Book_ like a clod; Moroney, in contrast, makes the notes spring off of the pages and into life, with generous (but not overbearing) ornamentation and sprightly tempi (never too fast, never too slow, but always "just right" - I can't say such a thing very often). I don't know if Byrd sounded like he does here, but I can't imagine this music sounding any better. I'm done raving now. ;-)"
Very, very nice set
W. P. Gardner | Menlo Park, CA, United States | 08/22/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a fan of William Byrd's choral music (and have performed a few pieces, such as the Mass for Five Voices), but this is the first time I've really gotten deep into his keyboard music. I was not disappointed.Some period keyboard recordings sound relentless--I have to admit that I cannot endure more than about 45 minutes of harpsichord music at a sitting, because it just lacks too much color and variation. Moroney has dealt with that by using a collection of period instruments and varying the mix. But (unlike Glenn Gould) he does not add in the piano. (I think the piano has a superior sound, simply because its dynamic range is wider, but it's wrong for Byrd's period. Moroney has answered that pretty well without cheating.)If you are a polyphonic, contrapuntal music maniac the way I am, you will really enjoy wallowing in this stuff the way a hog wallows in mud. (OK, maybe I feel a little guilty for pigging out on Byrd music by buying 7 CDs of it. But I only feel a LITTLE guilty.)"
William Byrd as it should be
alamode | 03/12/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great gift for fans of Byrd's music or for keyboard enthusiasts in general. It is very attractively packaged and takes up little shelf space despite holding 7 discs. The set also comes with a book which provides a brief but well done overview of Byrd's work and information on each of the keyboard compositions on the seven discs.
The music itself is also top notch. Mr. Moroney displays considerable skill in performing all of the compositions and the recording quality is excellent. Moroney's performance is accurate and engaged, but does not overstep it's bounds to imparting romantic overtones which would be inappropriate for music from Byrd's time.
Whenever XM radio Classics plays a Byrd keyboard composition it is usually from this great boxed set; so if you don't trust my tastes, then you can trust Martin Goldsmith's at XM Classics, formerly of NPR's Performance Today.
It's often hard to find really good recordings of Byrd's keyboard works, except for the Glen Gould selections. This boxed set solves that problem permanently. It really is worth every penny."
