The first great phase in music publishing coincided with the
production of Renaissance sacred polyphony for the liturgies of
the Roman Catholic Church. The outstanding composers of this
generation poured out the best of themselves in their motets and
masses, leaving a legacy of sacred music without parallel in the
history of Western music. This "Journey through the Renaissance"
includes some of the greatest masterpieces of the period, ranging
from Thomas Tallis's imposing motet for 40 voices "Spem in alium"
to the intensely moving "Versa est in luctum" by the Spanish
composer Alonso Lobo, and also featuring works by Byrd, Lassus,
Palestrina and Victoria.
Recorded in the chapel of Merton College, Oxford,
7-10 January & 22 February 2000
Playing time : 71'31" DDD
