COMPOSERS: Allegri,Byrd,Palestrina,Parsons,Philips,Tallis,Tye,Viadana
LABELS: Hyperion
WORKS: Polyphony by Palestrina, Byrd, Parsons, Viadana, Tallis, Philips, Allegri, Tye,
PERFORMER: Joseph Cullen (organ); Westminster Cathedral Choir/James O’Donnell
CATALOGUE NO: CDA 66850 DDD
The reputation of England’s flagship Roman Catholic choir goes before it, and is well maintained here. The disc mixes the repertoire the choir is best known for – continental Renaissance polyphony – with English music of the same period: less familiar recorded territory for them, to which they add their own touch – a richer, creamier sound than the pure ‘white’ of most Anglican cathedral choirs, and more than a hint of Romantic expression. Janet Banks