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 The Oxford Camerata
According to their blurb, the Oxford Camerata were 'formed in order to meet the growing demand for choral groups specializing in music from the Renaissance era. It has since expanded its repertoire to include music from the medieval period to the present day, using instrumentalists where necessary.'
There is no doubt of the group's professionalism and accuracy, though sometimes their sound is a little woolly, and more like a madrigal group than the cathedral or royal chapel singers for which most of their target music was written - to be honest, they aren't quite as good as the Sixteen, and none of the independent groups seem to quite touch the depth of a real cathedral choir - but, and it's a big but - they're nonetheless excellent, so this is only a comparative put-down!
English Madrigals and Songs - Oxford Camerata
This is a real oddity for us, because it's not actually church music - but if you thought madrigals were all 'hey nonny, nonny', it will be a hugely pleasant surprise. And if you love church music, you'll love this CD too. This sampler begins with a handful of early tudor songs, including Cornysh's wry number Ah Robin, gentle Robin where the narrator discusses his leman (mistress). The central chunk is a set of 'madrigals from the golden age', ncluding the most fantastic title of any madrigal, Weelkes' magnificently named Thule, the period of Cosmography. To finish off, there are some more modern romantic songs and part songs, beginning with Robert Pearsall (he of the classic arrangement of In Dulci Jubilo we all know from Carols for Choirs) whose semi-pastische Lay a garland remains one of the most stunning unaccompanied choral pieces ever - it's worth buying the CD for this alone - and ending with Stanford's haunting The blue bird. All this for under a fiver (or $8) - you'd be mad not to buy it. Incidentally, the sheet music of 'Lay a garland' is available free from the Choral Public Domain Library. Just enter the name in the search box to find it.
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 a pair of Mag and Nuncs 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.
