Carwood has specialized on Tallis' beautiful and melancholy compositions, this being the fourth recording on the Hyperion label, after Gramophone Award Winner Gaude gloriosa (CDA67548), Salve intemerata (CDA67994) and Missa Puer natus est nobis (CDA68026). Fifteen works are presented here in Latin and English including, O Salutaris hostia, Wipe away my sins, Why fum'th in fight (No 3 of 9 Psalm Tunes), Ave, rosa sine spinis, Blessed by thy name, Te lucis ante terminum I & II, In manus tuas, Domine, Salvator mundi II, O come in one to praise the Lord (No 4 or 9 Psalm Tunes), When Jesus went into Simon the Pharisee's house, Euge caeli porta, Laudate Dominum, Miserere nostri.
The major work of this disc is a Mass for four voices (ATBarB) in five movements. Carwood uses nine voices for his realization. 'The mass is in Latin, but compared with earlier settings of the Ordinary Of The Mass, the style is radically different. The composition is shorter in length and the Gloria and Credo are rigorously syllabic throughout. Gone are the meandering melismas and the clarity of the text is now paramount.'
The Cardinall's Musick deliver a crystalline purity and direct aural sound from the 13 singers on this recording. Carwood prepared the CD notes essay, including the above quote. Three editors are credited for the scores: Nick Sandon, Edward Tambling and Andrew Carwood. An exemplary recording.