Gabriel Jackson, like Harry Christophers, was a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral and understands how to use cathedral acoustics effectively.
Performer Biography
The Sixteen, the ensemble performing on this album, was founded by Harry Christophers CBE in May 1979 and originally consisted of exactly sixteen singers.
Composition History
James MacMillan's O virgo prudentissima was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation for The Sixteen and premiered in 2018, based on a six-bar fragment by Robert Wylkynson.
Album & Artwork
This album was conceived for The Sixteen's 2019 Choral Pilgrimage, an annual tour across the UK to cathedrals and abbeys, celebrating the ensemble's 40th anniversary.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The album's program highlights how Renaissance and Tudor English works have influenced contemporary composers, showcasing a choral journey across centuries.
Historical Context
The Eton Choirbook, a collection of Latin Tudor church music, miraculously survived the destruction of the Reformation.
Compositional Technique
Robert Wylkynson's nine-part Salve Regina from the Eton Choirbook is notable for each part being labelled according to angelic rank (Seraphs, Cherubs, Angels).
