What a beautiful CD! If you’ve never heard the rich-textured, vibrant sound of voices and viols, this would make an ideal first experience; and if you have, you’ll be impressed with the music’s full-bodied character and with the ardent, deeply felt expression of the singers, perfectly imitated and supported by the instruments. These English verse anthems were nothing if not full of emotion and spiritual passion, an opportunity for soloists and choir to articulate prayers and praise through music in the language of ordinary people, facilitated–indeed demanded–by the reformation in England in the 16th century. The composers represented here were all experts in the devices and designs of liturgical music–only William Simmes will be unfamiliar to most listeners–and the examples we hear are all substantial, masterful creations. Besides the lovely choral sound, most impressive is the ensemble phrasing, which invariably–and appropriately–yields to the natural emphasis of the text while never forgetting the satisfying effect of a well-turned cadence. The singers are uniformly excellent, and the instrumentalists–some of the world’s best period-specialists–get additional chances to show their stuff in viol fantasias by Tomkins and Gibbons. The sound, from Quebec’s Église Saint-Augustin de Mirabel, is resonant, robust, and real. There are other fine recordings of similar repertoire, but none better than this one. Highly recommended! [08/08/2007]
