Search - Pierre de Manchicourt, John [Composer] Sheppard, Thomas [Composer] Tallis :: Philip & Mary: A Marriage of England & Spain

"All hail the über-choir..." - THE INDEPENDENT After 27 years of worldwide performance, The Sixteen is recognized as one of the world?s greatest vocal ensembles, with a special reputation for clarity and beauty with precision and dramatic intensity. Repertoire includes early European polyphony, masterpieces of the Renaissance and Baroque, and the choral highlights of the twentieth century, reflecting the passions of conductor and founder Harry Christophers. A jewel in The Sixteen?s crown is its own record label, CORO, which offers new recordings each year and is re-issuing the former Collins Classics catalogue. On Christmas Day 1554, the Spanish Armada was a long way off on the horizon. Mary Tudor had married Prince Philip of Spain, and in celebration of her pregnancy Tallis had composed the Mass Puer natus, which may well have been performed in St Paul's Cathedral on this special day. For this splendid ceremony the English Chapel Royal and choir of St Paul's were joined by Prince Philip of Spain's Capilla Flamenca to sing music by great composers from both countries. This recording presents a number of works which were likely to have been performed by these choirs on this special occasion.