William Byrd: The Great Service

In the Church of England, the liturgical day features three services: Matins (in the morning), Communion, and Evensong. William Byrd’s Great Service is a collection of pieces designed to be sung across these services throughout the day, written for a ten-voice ensemble divided into two choirs of five voices each. The hymns and songs include Magnificat and Nunc dimittis sections, and are magnificently sung here by the Tallis Scholars.