Search - Thomas Tallis, Tallis Scholars :: The Tallis Christmas Mass

Tallis's seven-voice Christmas Mass "Puer natus est" (A boy is born), which until recently lacked huge portions of music (almost all of the Credo is still missing), is beautifully rendered here in a new reconstruction by longtime Tallis Scholar Sally Dunkley. This Mass, composed in a smooth, lush style full of sweet major chords, suits this choir well; their performance of it is their most enchanting work in quite some time. The other newly-reconstructed piece on this disc, "Ave Dei patris filia," is a lengthy prayer to the Virgin in typical English pre-Reformation style, with extended sections for two or three voices contrasting with sections for full five-voice choir (including spectacular high trebles); one couldn't ask for a more impressive re- introduction than the one here. --Matthew Westphal