William Byrd: Cantiones Sacrae (1589)

“This pioneering record, first issued in 1984, champions some of Byrd’s most exquisitely formed and passionate works. At the time of its release, several commentators noted with surprise how scarce recordings were of these cantiones sacrae (or ‘sacred songs’; the word ‘motet’ loosely corresponds). Seven years on, the majority have never been revisited… the performances are musically so impressive. Even the shorter pieces are made to sound monumental, and in the longer motets—two of which extend to nine minutes or more—Edward Higginbottom achieves a glorious sense of breadth and weight.” – Gramophone