Masses

One month down the road, this music has grown on me - so much, I'm revising my original review! This is VERY "straight" music but soothing & relaxing and steeped in (musical) history. If you’re in a choir that sings this type of music – I am – you will get a lot out of it. My choir were trying it out for a concert tour to Barcelona in September 2015, including singing at La Familia Segrada. In the end we preferred an alternative mass by Pompeo Canniciari (Italian) - but that was due to the conductor’s appraisal of our choir’s vocal strengths on that piece, more than the music itself. And Canniciari is also well worth listening to, if they have anything by him! Finally, about the supplier, I found them to be exceptionally good service-wise because the original CD arrived in a broken case – probably due to rough handling in transit – but when I just mentioned this in the original review, I was sent a NEW perfect CD case – which I have now put into use. I found this very thoughtful, and commend the supplier for this action.

The music on this CD is simply awesome. Victoria has the ability to express the meaning of the text through compositions of unparalled beauty. Is this due to his "double mission" of composer and priest ?His reputation and influence on his contemporaries and the following generation (the Portuguese composers Duarte Lobo and Manuel Cardoso to name two outstanding examples) was enormous.The singing is first rate and the recording crystal clear.The icing on the cake is the final track "Versa est in luctim" by Alonso Lobo a real Renaissance gem.In short exquisite music, an outstanding performance by the Oxford Camerata and a professional recording.all for a few pounds.

Marvelous music.

I've never heard a dud cd by the Oxford Camerata, their singing is smooth and this music is lovely, not sure why they didn't get 3 stars in the Penguin review.

good service and fine music