Customer Reviews

The Essential Tallis Scholars

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't even begin to understand why this wonderful album, a selection from recordings of the renowned Tallis scholars starting in 1980, has remained without reviews so far. Let me tell all lovers of Renaissance music and choral music in general that this album is one of the best in its kind. For me, it is even superior to the overblown "The Best of the Renaissance" (also by the Tallis scholars).

The enchantment begins wit the cds themselves, exquisitely decorated with a reproduction of the Vision of St Bernhard of Clairvaux by Renaissance painter Filippino Lippi. The plastic box is protected by a beautiful, glossy paper cover featuring cherubs absorbed in contemplation. Inside you will find a booklet containing the Latin texts of the chants translated in English, French and German (which is not the case with "The Best of the renaissance")together with a presentation-illustrated with photographs-of the Tallis scholars and the music of the album.

Although this is a compilation of different recordings extending over a dozen years or so, I would like to emphasize that there is not the slightest difference in sound quality between the various tracks.

One of the strong point of this album is the great variety of the sung pieces. Whereas "The Best of the Renaissance" features no less than 3 Masses (by Byrd, Desprez and Palestrina), which means hearing again and again Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus, this album offers a whole range of motets and hymns with a few major Mass pieces like the final Gloria by Brumel on the first cd, whose splendor almost puts it on a par with the gorgeous "Spem in Alium" by Thomas Tallis.

Maybe the only weakness of this album is the choice of the composers, many of whom are rather obscure Flemish and English composers (who knows Crecquillon Isaac, Clemens, Cornysh, Sheppard, Rore, White?), although great names like Allegri, Byrd Palestrina, Lassus Victoria, Tallis and Desprez are also represented.

But the music is splendid all along and,last but not least, in this recording you are spared the experimental music of pretentious Gesualdo, which in my opinion spoils "The Best of the Renaissance".

i truely recommend this cd. i'm 19, grew up with metal, rock, n rap. But this is truelly the most delicate music, makes earth feel like heaven. it has changed my life, n hopefully changes yours. The music takes you farther than you will ever be as a human, farther than ur wildest dream. Listen and take the path of splendid creations.


Nick

For years, Tallis Scholars have been quietly revolutionizing our recovery of sacred music. This is their "greatest hits" collection and quite great indeed. The Miserere which begins the set is alone worth the price of the set. The only fault with it is that it is so startling, so obviously genuine, that you will still be hearing it as you play through the rest of the set. The Scholars' ongoing recovery project only proves how integral music is to the human psyche, how essential the sacred is to basic human sanity. And how the severence of the two in the public space and the popular imagination -- the sacred from music -- has severely damaged us all en masse.

Can any one believe the beauty of this music, the clarity of these voices, and the intonation resounding in every breath that they take. If this is not heaven on earth, and it already feels like it is, then we shall all be humbled to tears when we hear the angels choir. But i, for one, say that the Tallis Scholars are truly angels on earth, and their voices are proof of that. I am shocked that this cd has recieved 2 reviews, and am writing this to tell you, that you need to buy this cd, and listen to the clarity of voice that it bestows upon the mind.

COMPILATION OF THE TALLIS SCHOLARS FROM 1980 TO 1998.
The pieces on these two discs are taken from over fifteen years of recording by the Tallis Scholars, startng with the now-famous recording of Allegri's 'Miserere' from 1980. Allegri lived well into the Baroque era, dying in 1562. Therefore, he did not write the 'Miserere' in renaissance polyphony, and his chordal structure leaned toward the Baroque.

Victoria's 8-part 'Ave Maria' and Palestrina's 'Sicut lilium' are both pieces ln a contemplative mood, the first making direct reference to the Virgin Mary, and the second indirect reference to her via the poetry of the 'Song of Songs'. The remaining selections on Disc one maintain the consistent, intense sonority of Flemish polyphony.

Disc two falls into two parts. The pieces by Sheppard, Tallis,White and Cornysh come from the first half of the sixteenth century and are part of the 'English School' of writing. Here the music is made up of long lines, more notes than syllables, with the emphasis on the part-writing and not the harmonic background.

The second part of Disc 2 is Byrd's five-part Mass, which was written in the 1590's for a recusant Catholic community. Byrd's music has drawn closer to the Flemish style; that is imitative voice parts, largely syllabic in setting with the occasional examples of word-paintings, and the voice parts closer together. But the mood has a different intensity than the writing on Disc one; darker and more questioning. Never was polyphony more passionate than in Byrd's masses,of which the five-part is the crowning achievement.

All the music sung on these two discs benefits from, clarity, both in the singing and the surrounding building(Merton Chapel in Oxford and Salle Church in Norfolk); both buildings chosen for the clarity of their acoustic.

Whether the sonority includes very high notes, as in some of the English repertoire, or has thick textures, as with the Flemish writing as in Brumel's 12 voice 'Gloria', the quality is enhanced by the buildings.

The members of the Tallis Scholars vary from year to year, and the list of participating singers is included in the accompanying booklet; but it does not tell you which singers are singing each year. That bothered me somewhat because I like to know to whom I am listening specifically. It does mention, however, that the solo group in Allegri's 'Miserere' is Alison Stamp (treble), Michael Chance (countertenor) Jane Armstrong and Julian Walker.

The recording is outstanding in every way. Perfect balance between the voices, perfect emotional investment, flawless dicton and the most beautiful vocal sounds you will ever hear; just Two and One-half hours of pure pleasure!

This set of CDs is truly wonderful. I am fond of sacred choral music and purchased the CD mostly to obtain the recording of Gregorio Allegri's "Miserere Mei." This song alone is worth buying the set. I heard it live by an excellent college choir in my hometown and immediately set out to find the best recording of it. Most buyers recommended this recording over the others. (By the way "Miserere Mei: by Gregorio is hard to find.) Additionally the other songs are also so relaxing, flowing, and meditative. I will be honest . . .the Tallis Scholars sing well but not as flawlessly as the Cambridge Singers. You will note that not every consanant is hit in unison, but this is not overly disturbing. (Still that is the only reason for giving four stars instead of five.) The sound is still lovely and the songs gorgeous. In Media Vita is another gorgeous song (first on second CD). If you haven't heard it, I'm sure you'll love the flowing melody!

This CD is excellent - a "must have" for every collection. Beautiful voices, relaxing music.

The Tallis Scholars are the zenith of this type of singing, but sometimes they lack the vocal warmth that they probably could achieve if they were guided to do so. Still, this is a great CD, and even better for the 2 CDs of fine and uplifting singing.

Magical blending of superb voices in sacred music. Evocative yet peaceful - listened to this driving across the California desert at dawn this summer and was deeply moved.

Great and manifold are the divine mysteries of Christ's love, and all the wonder he hath created. The depth of the love of His children is so beautifuly rendered in the music on these cds, (wich I purchased for 1 dollar less at cdconnection :)). It sparks my imagination to think of the beauty of the songs of real angels. If meer mortal men can make harmony so crushingly exquisite, how wonderful is the song of the Sarrafim??!!! I recommend this to everyone. good music for your private time with the Lord.