Composer: William Byrd, Thomas Causton, Josquin Despres, Nicolas Gombert, Thomas Tallis, Philip van Wilder
Performer: Cantores Chamber Choir
Conductor: David Allinson
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Toccata
Catalogue: TOCC0198
Release: 2013
Size: 307 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Wilder: Deo gratias / Ite missa est
02. Josquin: Homo quidam fecit cenam magnam
03. Wilder: Homo quidam
04. Wilder: Pater noster
05. Tallis: Sancte Deus
06. Wilder: Sancte Deus
07. Gombert: Amys souffrez
08. Wilder: Amy, souffrez
09. Wilder: O dulks regard
10. Wilder: Je file quand Dieu
11. Wilder: Pour vous aymer
12. Wilder: Amour me point
13. Causton: Turn thou us, O good Lord
14. Wilder: Las que feray (Shall I Despaire)
15. Tallis: O sacrum convivium
16. Tallis: Blessed are those that be undefiled
17. Wilder: Blessed Art Thou
18. Byrd: If in thine heart
19. Wilder: Vidi civitatem
20. Wilder: Non est qui / Non nobis, Domine
21. Wilder: Aspice Domine
22. Byrd: Aspice, Domine, de sede sancta tua
23. Byrd: Ne irascaris Domine – Civitas sancti tui
Philip van Wilder (c.1500–53) was a Dutch lutenist and composer who became Henry VIII’s favourite musician. Although a major figure in his own day (and also comfortably off), he has passed almost unnoticed from musical history.
This recording presents his complete surviving sacred music and some of his chansons – which Reformation Protestants found useful to kickstart their new, simpler religious repertoire.
The programme sets him in historical context: downstream from Josquin and Gombert, collaborating with Tallis and a formative influence on Byrd.
Cantores is a choir formed from graduates of Exeter University by Dr David Allison which meets several times a year for specific projects, specialising in the music of the Renaissance. Dr David Allinson is a conductor, singer and musicologist specialising in the history and performance of Renaissance choral music. Appointed Director of Music at Canterbury Christ Church University in 2013, he was previously Teaching Fellow in Music at Bristol University. With a wide experience as a choral director and choir trainer, he leads workshops and summer schools around the UK and in Europe. As well as leading Cantores, he performs and records with the Renaissance Singers in London.