The Voice of the Turtle Dove

Featuring

Harry Christophers
The Sixteen
John Sheppard
William Mundy
Richard Davy

Did you know?

1/7

Recording & Production

This album, "Treasures of Tudor England," was recorded in November 2013 at the Church of St. Alban the Martyr, Holborn, London.

Composition History

Richard Davy's remarkable work, O Domine caeli terraeque creator, was composed in a single day at Magdalen College, Oxford, according to the Eton copyist.

Composer Biography

Richard Davy, the earliest of the three featured composers, probably died in 1521, and his music miraculously survived the Reformation.

Historical Context

The music on this album is drawn from two rich periods of English sacred music: the late 15th century and the mid-16th century during Mary Tudor's reign, which brought England back to Catholicism.

Composer Biography

William Mundy, a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, was praised by anthologist Robert Dow as coming 'second after Byrd,' a prominent composer of the time.

Critical Reception

John Sheppard's music remained unknown for a long time due to the destruction or loss of manuscripts, and much of it only appeared in print in the 1970s.

Performer Biography

The Sixteen, the ensemble performing on this album, is recognized as one of the world's greatest ensembles, with a special reputation for early English polyphony.