Sarum Chant - Missa In Gallicantu

"During the Middle Ages, England had its own versions of the Roman Catholic liturgy. The most prominent of these is known as the Sarum Rite, which was developed early in the 13th century at Salisbury Cathedral. Until the Reformation this distinctive body of plainchant (which differed in many respects from the Roman liturgy) was used throughout England.

"The music on this CD is from the First Mass of Christmas, which was celebrated on Christmas Eve 'in gallicantu' (at the cockcrow). All the sung parts of the mass are given here, by nine male members of this distinguished ensemble, with one of the bass singers, Jeremy White, performing the role of Celebrant.

"There seems to be nothing The Tallis Scholars undertake that falls short of the mark. If your standard of comparison is the kind of well-intended but uninformed singing that passes for chant in many of today's Anglican/Episcopal churches, put those impressions completely aside and listen to how it's supposed to be done. In less capable hands, chant can easily be forced into a modernized metrical structure, or can come off sounding like a kind of musical muttering.

"The Tallis Scholars' performance here is, like the music, born of purity and simplicity. And, also like these chants, it transcends the physical confines of notation and text to allow the listener to dwell, undistracted by harmony, instrumental accompaniment, or complex contrapunctal texture, on the liturgy's higher, more immediate purpose. The wonderful thing is that, beyond the religious origin and purpose of the Sarum Rite, the music on its own is quite beautiful and extraordinarily eloquent, almost hypnotic in its effect."

David Vernier (CD Review, USA, March 1989)