9. Lied

Kolędy (carols) stand for Polish religious songs conneced with Christmas, but it was only in the 17th century when the current meaning of this term was finally established. Kolęda' is the equivalent of English 'carol' ('nowell'), French 'noël' or German 'Weihnachtslied'. The origin of this word goes back to the ancient times. Romans used to regard calenda as the first day of each month; in January it was celebrated in a particularly festive manner because since the calendar reform made by Caesar in 45 B.C., it began a new year.

Lista utworów:
Nowy rok bieży
A cóż z tą dzieciną
Mędrcy świata
My też, pastuszkowie
Pójdźmy wszyscy do stajenki
Przy onej górze
Przybywajcie aniołowie
W dzień Bożego narodzenia
Przystąpmy do szopy

This new transcription of Byrd's Masses for three, four and five voices respectively has been prepared mainly to meet the demand for a practical choir edition. Although these masterpieces of Tudor polyphony have long been familiar through earlier transcriptions by Rimbault, Rockstro, Barclay Squire, Terry and Fellowes a few textural uncesrtainties have persisted. I have therefore used the occasion to make a definitive score by reference to the set of original part-books in the British Museum. Thus for the first time in a separate publication of these works any editorial suggestions are readily distinguishable from the original text. Byrd's own accidentals are printed in the normal position, i. e. to the left of the note affected while other accidentals, added for whatever reason, appear in small type above the note. A system of regular barring has been applied having regard to the fact that the training and equipment of the present-day choral singer bear little relation to those of his sixteenth-century counterpart. Experience has shown that any visual advantage to the rhythmic flow derived from irregular barring is diminished in practice by difficulties of counting and place-finding.

Lista utworów:
Mass For Four Voices (Byrd Williams)