Product Description 2011 sees the first recording by The Sixteen devoted entirely to Palestrina. The disc marks the start of a new project which will result in a series of new recordings exploring a selection of the composer s vast output, and a Choral Pilgrimage tour. Palestrina was born in 1525 not far from Rome, in the town whose name he bore and from which we take the cover images for this new series of discs. Possibly the greatest composer of liturgical music of all time, Palestrina was a towering figure in Renaissance polyphony. Choral singers world-wide will know his Missa Papae Marcelli (recorded by The Sixteen on COR16014) as, without doubt, it is the most renowned of Palestrina s works and possibly the most famous mass of all time. On this new disc The Sixteen has recorded some of the sumptuous music he wrote for the Assumption including his Missa Assumpta est Maria and Salve Regina. Without doubt, Palestrina was the great master of all Papal composers and his spiritual craft and harmonic vitality fulfilled the needs of the Vatican. His Motet and Offertory for the Assumption also entitled Assumpta est Maria, are glorious examples of such work and can be heard in all their splendour on this recording. By his death in 1594, Palestrina had published a huge amount of music including over 100 Masses and over 350 motets. Review The Sixteen sound sumptious.These wonderful pieces show a mastery of textural variety. **** --The Times,02/07/11The Sixteen and Harry Christophers launch the first volume of a long-term Palestrina project, using their instincts to convey not just the mellifluous perfection of Palestrina's polyphonic vocal writing but also the music s expressive import. Most of the works relate to the Assumption, but settings from The Song of Songs attest to Palestrina s more worldly leanings. All are performed exquisitely. --The Telgraph,21/07/11The abstract beauty of the singer's approach to the Missa Assumpta Est Maria and the breathless beauty of Song of Songs shows the Sixteen's adaptability and resourcefulness.Another tick in their box-the naturalistic sound quality which avoids the contrived 'other-worldly'quality that plagues lesser early music recordings.***** EDITOR'S CHOICE --Classic fm Magazine,Sept'11A potentially monumental Palestrina project gets off to a promising start. --Gramophone,Oct'11An auspicious start to what one hopes will be a long-running series,and yet another jewel in the crown of an already glittering discography from this fine choir. --IRR,Sept'11
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