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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | The Marriage of England and SpainWinchester Cathedral, 1554
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| |  | John Taverner - Missa Gloria Tibi Trinitas
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| |  | Taverner & Tudor Music II - Gloria tibi Trinitas
This CD is the second recording by Ars Nova Copenhagen featuring a Mass by John Taverner and a selection of works by composers from the same era – the first CD featured his Western Wind Mass. The main work here is Taverner’s Gloria tibi Trinitas Mass, one of the masterworks of Tudor church music, together with appropriate plainchants, hymn settings by White, Byrd and Tallis, and Fayrfax’s brilliant Magnificat Regale. ARS NOVA Copenhagen is widely recognized as one of the finest vocal ensembles in Europe equally dedicated to early music and new music. Some programs explore the cross-currents between the two, while others form detailed portraits of individual composers or genres within a given period. Another major project is in progress, with Dacapo Records, to record the five major narrative works by Heinrich Schütz – these will be released during 2009-11 “The main work on this disc, Taverner's marvellous Glora tibi trinitas Mass composed c1526, was famous in its day as the source of the 'In Nomine' tune beloved of instrumental variations. The Mass's wide vocal range, exposed solo sections, subtle changes of time, and long phrases present challenges that are well met by these performers. Hillier keeps them on track with a lively pace (fastest of the available recordings) and is helped by some extremely pure female voices, and good tuning...” BBC Music Magazine, February 2009 **** “Every work here is a masterpiece of its kind, and the "logic and propulsion" and rhythmic vigour… in Tavener's Mass are virtues that mark the 18 or so voices of Ars Nova throughout the recital, both severally and in concert. The acoustic of St Paul's Church, Copenhagen, is a reticent presence, in tune with the compelling sobriety of the whole enterprise.” Gramophone Magazine, July 2009 | | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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John Taverner, the most outstanding English composer of his time, was appointed Informator Choristarum of Cardinal College, Oxford in 1526, with the charge of establishing the foremost choral institution in the land. He succeeded magnificently and the tradition continues to this day at what is now known as Christ Church, Oxford, with acclaimed director Stephen Darlington, renowned for his strength in 16th century choral music, at the helm. Darlington and his forces – 16 boys and 12 men, unchanged since the 1520s – pay homage to their predecessor with a programme of his liturgical music written at Oxford. While there, Taverner had to write music to be performed virtually round the clock and he rose to the challenge using great imagination. He wrote innumerable memorable melodies, with an unprecedented emotional range and a sophisticated sense of drama. His music was astonishingly modern for its time, and in its richness remains much so today. The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford has a special and distinctive place within the great English choral tradition as it uniquely serves both an Oxford college and a diocese. With an unbroken, continuous tradition of glorious music-making for nearly five hundred years, today the choir is renowned for its vibrant sound and artistic versatility, qualities that have been praised throughout the world from Sydney to Rio de Janiero, Tokyo to New York, Helsinki to Paris. Apart from their Oxford duties and international tours, the Choir has been heard by millions on the Mr. Bean soundtracks and Vicar of Dibley TV theme tune. Recorded at the Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, England, 15 –17 November 2006 “Taverner's Mass is the chef d'oeuvre of the greatest composer of his time, yet it has never before been recorded by the kind of liturgical choir which he had in mind; this is a courageous and significant act of reclamation.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2007 “Stephen Darlington gives majestic shape to this monumental work, effectively drawing out the imperturbable tread of the 'Gloria tibi Trinitas' cantus firmus. The choir produces a sound of blistering intensity…” BBC Music Magazine, August 2007 *** “The Choir of Christ Church could hardly have made a more ambitious return to recording after their valuable but variable series of Nimbus Tavener Vocal 1157 discs. Taverner's Mass is the chef d'oeuvre of the greatest composer of his time, yet it has never before been recorded by the kind of liturgical choir which he had in mind; this is a courageous and significant act of reclamation. Courageous, because Taverner's demands of phrase and melodic continuity are more subtle, but no less daunting in their own way, than those presented by Palestrina and Gombert. Performing at written pitch helps.
Stephen Darlington and his choir aren't afraid of a few dirty edges around the sound; this is a world away from the hygienic surfaces of the Gabrieli Consort or from the shapely halo of King's, Cambridge. The Christ Church trebles have a full-frontal attack to a phrase that is more commonly heard from middle-European choirs.
That makes it more susceptible to the glare of the microphone, but the recording itself dares to go in closer than Nimbus ever did. The risk largely pays off in tutti passages of startling immediacy, contrasted with more solo verse sections than is usual (to rest tired voices?). Some distended cadences leave you wondering whether they can possibly have the puff to sustain them. Sometimes they can't (at the end of the first paragraph of the Sanctus); often they can (the 'Hosanna' at the end of the famous Benedictus).
The motets are no less individual in concept and execution, including a cheeky but winning slide in Mater Christi; like the rest of the disc it will divide opinion, but it demands to be taken seriously.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | The Golden Age of English Polyphony
Fayrfax: | Aeternae Laudis Lilium Missa Albanus | Mundy, W: | O Lord, the maker of all things Videte miraculum Sive vigilem Ah, helpless wretch Vox Patris caelestis Kyrie ‘Orbis factor’ O Lord, the world's Saviour Magnificat Nunc dimittis The secret sins Beatus et sanctus Adolescentulus sum ego | Sheppard, J: | Cantate Mass Salvator mundi Domine Verbum caro factum est Laudem dicite Deo Reges Tharsis et insulae In manus tuas I Filiae Hierusalem venite In pace in idipsum Paschal Kyrie Jesu salvator saeculi, verbum Mass 'The Western Wynde' The Second Service Te Deum laudamus Spiritus sanctus I Justi in perpetuum vivent Libera nos 1 & II Audivi vocem de caelo Deus tuorum militum I Ave maris stella Jesu salvator saeculi, redemptis Spiritus Sanctus procedens II Beata nobis gaudia In manus tuas II Gaude gaude gaude Maria Haec dies quam fecit Dominus Impetum fecerunt unanimes Dum transisset Sabbatum I Sancte Dei pretiose Sacris solemniis Hostes Herodes impie Dum transisset Sabbatum II In manus tuas III Aeterne Rex altissime | Taverner: | Archangeli Michaelis Interventione Kyrie 'Le Roy' Missa O Michael Dum transisset Sabbatum I Gaude plurimum Ex eius tumba Missa Corona Spinea In pace, in idipsum O splendor gloriae Te Deum Alleluia. Veni, electa mea Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas In nomine a 4 Audivi vocem de coelo Dum transisset Sabbatum II Hodie nobis caelorum rex Mater Christi Sanctissima Magnificat a 4 - Nesciens mater Quemadmodum a 6 Missa Mater Christi sanctissima Mass 'The Western Wynde' O Wilhelme, pastor bone Missa Sancti Wilhelmi 'Small Devotion Mass' |
When The Sixteen embarked upon their recording career back in 1982, few would have been able to predict quite how successful they would become, or how far they would go towards rehabilitating the little-known and barely recorded music of these four master composers of the sixteenth century. In this their 30th anniversary year, we join them in celebrating a Golden Age of Polyphony, and of music-making, by presenting their twelve discs of this repertoire in an attractively packaged (and priced) 10-CD remastered set. “English choral music at its finest.” The Observer, 29th November 2009 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Gramophone Magazine