The arcane colours of Fayrfax

Abstract

One of Tudor England's most eminent composers, Robert Fayrfax (1464–1521), is at last fully emerging from the shadows, thanks to a variety of recent enterprises. First came a series of recordings of his complete works, sung by The Cardinall's Musick and issued on the ASV label during the later 1990s. In 2003 the Roxburghe Club published a luxurious full-colour facsimile of The Arundel Choirbook (better known as the ‘Lambeth Choirbook’; London, Lambeth Palace Library, Ms.1), in which most of Fayrfax's sacred music is to be found. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Roger Bray has long been at work on these same pieces, editing them for the series Early English Church Music. Volume 1 of his edition was welcomed in this journal last year (see Roger Bowers's review in EM, xxxii/3 (Aug 2004), pp.471–3), and volume 2 must now be greeted with equal warmth—not only for its own sake, but also for the way it complements the other enterprises. With recordings, facsimile and editions all now readily to hand, the resources needed to explore Fayrfax's music could hardly be bettered.