William Mundy, a composer featured on this album, was head chorister at Westminster Abbey around 1543, when he was about fifteen years old.
Historical Context
The religious landscape of late Tudor England was characterized by extreme swings between traditional and reformed religion, making it difficult to confidently date much of the Latin music from the mid-sixteenth century.
Composer Biography
William Byrd, a composer on this album, remained a practicing Catholic while pursuing a public musical career, first as Organist of Lincoln Cathedral and then as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal.
Compositional Technique
Thomas Tallis's Videte miraculum uses a 'choral respond' structure where the full choir alternates with soloists, and the chant sections are implanted into a six-voice polyphonic texture.
Historical Context
The album's chronological center point is November 1558, reflecting the religious and political shifts during the reigns of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I.
Compositional Technique
William Mundy's monumental work, Vox Patris caelestis, is scored for a six-part choir with internal divisions known as 'gimells,' representing the most opulent voice combination available in the mid-century.
Historical Context
During the reign of Edward VI, church musicians were required to set vernacular texts with maximum clarity, and texts invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary or saints were outlawed.
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