Gibbons: Choral and Organ Music
Gibbons is often better represented in the hymn book than in the serious music of a service - and this CD helps demonstrate why that's a shame. With a mix of verse and full anthems, plus both sets of Mag and Nunc, and a smattering of organ music it gives a good picture of Gibbons' church output. If you like the sound of madrigals, you'll like some of the church music, but there are also works in here to rival more heavy duty compositions - Out of the deep, for example. Both evening services are fun - the contemplative verse settings of the second service and the livelier short service.
CDs by John Sheppard
Ca 1520-1560
Sheppard was a prolific contemporary of Tallis, who is sadly neglected at the moment. His music is not always as sophisticated as Tallis', but has energy and enthusiasm, and he is prepared to break the rules in a way that can sound strangely modern. Perhaps his best achievement is the way he uses treble voices in soaring high notes. In fact such was Sheppard's enthusiasm for the treble voice that he is alleged to have kidnapped a young boy from Malmesbury and dragged him back to Magdalen College, Oxford to sing in the choir.
Cantate Mass: The Sixteen
Two discs and only 4 of 20 tracks are the Cantate mass - there's also a good range of motets including many of Sheppard's best known pieces, such as the Christmas motet Verbum caro factus est and the beautiful Libera nos. If you need convincing of Sheppard's genius, just listen to the Amen of Jesu salvator saeculi, redemptis - taken individually some of the lines sound positively 20th century in their modernity, and in combination it takes your breath away - it's hard not to say 'he can't do that!' - but he does. Perhaps the only criticism is that the Sixteen underplay the clashes so they aren't quite as shocking as they could be. Even so, probably the best introduction to Sheppard now on the market.
Sacred Choral Works: Tallis Scholars
A good second CD to get if you like the sound of Sheppard, adding 6 new pieces to the Cantate Mass recording (though I admit there are two overlaps). Like the Sixteen, the Tallis Scholars have a good sound for Sheppard, though of course neither of them use the trebles that Sheppard was so fond of.
