William Byrd: Consorts for Three Viols

Marking its tenth anniversary, PRISM consort of viols into the refined allure of Byrd's intricate three-voice compositions.

Byrd took on particular challenges when composing his mature three-part works. He confronted difficult problems such as the contradiction between the creation of a rich harmonic sound with only three voices, and the interweaving of these three voices without compromising on the strict contrapuntal progression of the voices.  How Byrd approached these problems, and how he solved them, will be clear to you when you listen to this recording. –Kinya Osumi（Professor of musicology, Tokyo University of the Arts, Department of Musicology）

William Byrd (ca. 1540～1623)

Fantasia a 3
　　[1]　I.
　　[2]　II. 
　　[3]　III.

Gradualia 1
　　[4]　Quem terra, pontus, aethera
　　[5]　O gloriosa Domina
　　[6]　Memento salutis auctor
　　[7]　Ave maris stella

[8]　Alleluia, confitemini Domino
[9]　Hymn a 3 “Sermone blando”

Mass a 3
　　[10]　Kyrie
　　[11]　Gloria
　　[12]　Credo
　　[13]　Sanctus
　　[14]　Agnus Dei

Gradualia 1
　　[15]　Regina caeli
　　[16]　Alleluia, Vespere autem sabbati
　　[17]　Haec dies
　　[18]　Angelus Domini descendit
　　[19]　Post dies octo
　　[20]　Adorna thalamum tuum Sion

PRISM consort of viols
[Shigeru Sakurai, Miou Origuchi, Aika Shimizu]

Recorded at Fuchu-no-mori Theater Vienna Hall, 7-9 January 2026
Recording Engineer: Jun Kawanami
Recording Session Director: Yasuharu Fukushima
Assistant Engineer: Ikuro Yoshida
Sound Editing: Takako Yanagisawa
Notes: Kinya Osumi
Translation: Jonathan Baum
Cover Photo: Taira Tairadate
Cover Design: Natsue Yamanaka
Booklet Editor: Yuzuru Sasazaki
Special Thanks: Ongakujimusho-ASSIST