Waters of Babylon, compositions of the Pacific Northwest composer Jeff Junkinsmith, is the latest release by the Byrd Ensemble, a Seattle group directed by Markdavin Obenza; they recently celebrated their 20th anniversary and are becoming known on the international scene for their performances of music of the Renaissance and of contemporary composers. The five pieces […]
Byrd Ensemble
“Faire is the Heaven” at Thirty
In 1925 composer William Henry Harris (1883-1973) set to music some lines from the poem “An Hymne of Heavenly Beautie,” by Edmund Spenser (1552-1599). Scored for unaccompanied double chorus of four voices each (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), Faire is the Heaven is one of the most sublime pieces in the English choral repertoire. I’ve […]