Nearly a World Premiere Recording

When one looks at compositions dating from before 1610, the number of pieces of music still deemed to be ‘masterpieces’ begins to thin out quite rapidly. Tomás Victoria's setting of the Requiem is undoubtedly one of these ‘masterpieces’. It was written in 1603 for the funeral of Philip II’s sister, the Dowager Empress Maria, and was published for the first time only two years later. Today, the piece has become a favourite, especially with the English choirs; several recordings are on the market, the most notable being those by The Tallis Scholars under Peter Phillips and The Sixteen under Harry Christophers. These recordings combine this masterpiece of Spanish music with the English choral tradition: perfect a cappella singing (or very sparse accompaniment at most) produce a pure choral sound, with little to distract from the vocal…