Sarum Chant: Missa in gallicantu [Import, Original recording reissued]

Sarum Consort (Performer), Charles Daniels (Performer), Andrew Gant (Performer), Donald Greig (Performer), Stephen Jackson (Performer), Jonathan Markham (Performer), Ivan Moody (Orchestra), Rufus Muller (Artist), Bruce Russell (Artist), The Tallis Scholars (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Sarum Consort, Charles Daniels, Andrew Gant, Donald Greig, Stephen Jackson, et al.
• Orchestra: Ivan Moody
• Audio CD (November 13, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording reissued
• Label: Gimell UK
• ASIN: B00005ATD5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #292,310 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding chant, October 28, 2005

By 

Michael Rabjohns (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sarum Chant: Missa in gallicantu (Audio CD)

I own a number of recordings by the Tallis Scholars, but this one, for me, eclipses all the rest. The rich, sonorous voices and the measured cadence of the chant produce a deep, soothing performance of the Midnight Mass. The Latin is that of the Sarum (English) Rite, so it sounds a little different from what you'd hear elsewhere -- for example, "caelum" is pronounced "say-lum", not "chay-lum". If you enjoy Gregorian chant, this work belongs in your collection.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It doesn't get any better than this..., June 19, 2004

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sarum Chant: Missa in gallicantu (Audio CD)

--Sarum Use--
The term 'sarum use' refers to the practices, musically and liturgically, of Salisbury Cathedral, which was during much of the church life in England one of the leading lights in liturgical development; established variations to the Roman rite, translated into the Anglican church, the Sarum Rites and Usages are popular variations worldwide. Modern plainsong in Anglican churches often takes the Sarum rather than Gregorian form of melodies, which are simpler in significant ways. This is a very English sound.

--Missa in gallicantu--
This mass is sung as the first mass of Christmas according to the Sarum rite. It has fourteen movements here, including the lectionary reading from Isaiah intoned by two singers, one who does the reading, and the other who interpolating sections. Also included here are the sung Creed and communion pieces.

--Sarum hymns--
This disc includes four hymns for Christmas Offices - Christe redemptor omnium, from Matins; veni redemptor gentium, from Vespers; Salvator mundi, Domine, from Compline; and A solis ortus cardine from Lauds. These are well known tunes for plainchant, often used for with other words in other settings.

--Liner Notes--
Being internationally acclaimed, the Tallis Scholars' CDs typically present their commentary and texts in English, French, German and Italian (together with any Latin texts, including the text of the mass); that is true of this disc. The cover art also typically represents visual arts contemporary with the compositions - the piece used here is an illumination from the Copenhagen psalter of the Three Magi.

--The Tallis Scholars--
The Tallis Scholars, a favourite group of mine since the first time I heard them decades ago, are a group dedicated to the performance and preservation of the best of this type of music. A choral group of exceptional ability, I have been privileged to see them many times in public, and at almost every performance, their singing seems almost like a spiritual epiphany for me, one that defies explanation in words. Directed by Peter Phillips, the group consists of a small number of male and female singers who have trained themselves well to their task.

Their recordings are of a consistent quality that deserve more than five stars; this particular disc of pieces of sarum chant deserves a place on the shelf of anyone who loves choral music, liturgical music or Gregorian chant, classical music generally, or religious music. It is astonishing. The music on this disc was originally recorded in 1988.