COMPOSERS: Tallis,Tavener
LABELS: CRD
WORKS: The Western Wind Mass; Mater Christi
PERFORMER: Choir of New College, Oxford/Edward Higginbottom
CATALOGUE NO: 3372 Reissue (1979)
Higginbottom’s 1979 rendering of Taverner’s Western Wind Mass with the New College Oxford Choir originally superseded the King’s College version from the early Sixties. It is now up against even stronger competition from the Tallis Scholars. However, the genuine feeling conveyed by the New College Choir – with smooth melismatic counterpoint in the solos and exultant vigour in the full sections, well preserved in spacious recordings – still retains much of its freshness and presence. The poise and sensitivity in the varied textures of Tallis’s votive antiphons and a pleasing lightness of touch in Taverner’s Mater Christi confirm this disc’s lasting value. Nicholas Rast
Tavener, Tallis
Higginbottom’s 1979 rendering of Taverner’s Western Wind Mass with the New College Oxford Choir originally superseded the King’s College version from the early Sixties. It is now up against even stronger competition from the Tallis Scholars. However, the genuine feeling conveyed by the New College Choir – with smooth melismatic counterpoint in the solos and exultant vigour in the full sections, well preserved in spacious recordings – still retains much of its freshness and presence.
Our rating
4
Published: January 20, 2012 at 1:16 pm