Search - John Sheppard, Paul McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort :: John Sheppard: Missa cantate / McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort

Paul McCreesh is getting lots of attention these days for his Bach and Handel, and rightly so. But it's worth remembering that he, along with Andrew Parrott, pioneered the "liturgical reconstruction" format--programs of sacred works in the musical context of the church services for which the works were written, with, for example, Gregorian chant and organ music interspersed between the movements of a Josquin Mass setting. Some of McCreesh's best recordings have been such reconstructions--with music of Praetorius, Monteverdi, Morales, and, yes, Bach. With this disc, their first recording of Tudor-era English music, the McMaestro and his Gabrieli Consort do themselves proud once again. John Sheppard's Missa Cantate is a lavish Mass cycle (scored for high treble, low treble, two tenors, baritone, and bass) from the reign of Queen Mary Tudor; McCreesh and Prof. Nick Sandon have combined Sheppard's setting with all the chants, readings, and prayers from the Mass for Christmas Day at Salisbury Cathedral ca. 1540. Sheppard's rich, soaring writing comes across even better alongside the plainchant than it does on its own; the chant itself gets a vigorous performance--with the Consort joined by the boy choristers of Salisbury Cathedral--worthy of a hearty English Christmas celebration. McCreesh's singers pronounce the Latin the way 16th-century English singers would have done (which is to say, as if it were 16th-century English). Some of the resulting sounds may seem odd--for example, "qui tollis peccata mundi" becomes "kway tull-iss pick-AT-the munn-day"--but it suits the Sheppard well, helping to keep the darting melodic lines from turning to smooth Palestrina-like soup in Salisbury Cathedral's reverberant acoustic. By the way, the tastiest treat here is the last, just like a plum pudding at Christmas dinner: Sheppard's best-loved work, the vibrant Verbum caro, makes a thrilling conclusion to a marvelous disc. --Matthew Westphal