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Right, this 2 CD virgin Veritas issue contains arguably Tallis' finest works. The first CD tracks 1-9 is responsories, with plainchant sung by male voices and then the choir responding. The quality of the plainsong is usually very good, with some excellent phrasing (like the gloria in 'Videte Miraculum'), and some more mediocre, but still retaining interest. The full choir sections, though, are really beautiful, with enough attention to Tallis' gorgeous phrasing (but not too much, still preserving momentum. The repeated sections are varied by altering the tempi and dynamics and this works very well.
The famous Spem In Alium isn't the finest I've heard, (the finest perhaps being by the Tallis Scholars on Phillips), but certainly provides stiff competition. Perhaps a little more variation, light and dark, individual phrasing of the many different parts would help. The sound quality certainly doesn't hold it back though - sound quality is very good throughout, with pleasing resonance, clarity and warmth. I could find no intrusive coughs as there are on some of my other recordings.
The second CD is of motets, containing Tallis' msot famous, such as 'Salvator Mundi', as well as lesser known motets, all taken from the Cantiones Sacrae. All are excellent, especially the 18-minute Gaude Gloriosa Dei Mater, which seems to be a continual arc of development and progress from beginning to end, perfectly architectured.
Tuning is faultless throughout, at least to these ears. The balance is good, though perhaps sometimes the outer parts dominate the inner.
At this price, basically, it's a steal - over two hours of wonderful choral music with that beautiful, graceful and serene atmosphere that only Tallis can create, with his best and most famous works - for 8 quid. That makes this an essential purchase, one I would not like to be without.
With the excellent Andrew Parrott directing and the Taverner Consort littered with what have become star names like Emily van Evera, Caroline Trevor, John Mark Ainsley and Rogers Covey-Crump (to name but a few) one would expect something really special and this set doesn't disappoint in any way. As an introduction to Tallis you couldn't do better, I think, and for the seasoned Tallis listener it is a treat of impeccable singing, beautiful interpretation and wonderful, resonant sound.
This is a simply brilliant re-issue, and at this price an unmissable bargain. It is a treasured gem of my collection, and I can recommend it wholeheartedly.
The collection is unbelievable value and even if you haven't heard Tallis before, this is a CD set you can start you collection with!
BUT NOT THIS recording. Read more
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