John Sheppard - 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.
CDs by Westminster Cathedral Choir
With one exception, the top UK choirs specialising in this kind of music have protestant connections. But one Roman Catholic cathedral has a choir that is right up at the top - that's Westminster. The effortless precision and beauty of these voices can teach any of their rivals a thing or two. Anyone who enjoys this kind of music can expect to have some Westminster CDs on the shelf.
Exultate Deo - Westminster Cathedral Choir
Arguably the best wide-ranging sampler available for this period, with the delightfully crisp and seducing sound of the Westminster Cathedral Choir. It's like Who's Who of the period. Classic CD said 'For anyone eager to sample varied music from the Golden Age of polyphony this is a perfect disc' - and who are we to argue?
Byrd - Ave verum corpus, Civitatis Sancti tui, Haec dies, Tallis - Salvator mundi, O nata lux, In manus tuas, Palestrina - Sicut cervus, Exultate Deo, Philips - Ascendit Deus, Ave verum corpus, Allegri - Miserere, Parsons - Ave Maria, Lotti - Crucifixus, Viadana - Exultate justi
Tye - Omnes gentes, Gabrieli - Jubilate Deo, Monteverdi - Cantate Domino, Victoria - O quam gloriosum
A Ceremony of Carols - Westminster Cathedral Choir
Not everyone likes Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, but if you do (and we do) it's an electrifying experience, from the haunting fade in of the processional through the wonderfully spiky music in some carols, suggestive of ice and snow, and the simple beauty of some others. Makes the most of boys voices, and as usual Westminster do an excellent job. There are samples on the Amazon.co.uk site, so if you don't know the piece, have a listen. The CD includes for good measure Britten's delightful Missa Brevis and one or two shorter numbers. Highly recommended.
