Stephen Pritchard
The Observer
March 2014

Some clever detective work lies behind this recording of Thomas Tallis's Christmas Mass. It may have been written during the short reign of Mary I, a theory engendered by Tallis's deployment of seven voice parts (two alto, two tenor, baritone and two bass). The lack of a treble part suggests it was composed for Philip II of Spain's Chapel Royal choir (which seems not to have used boys' voices) when it was resident in England after his marriage to Mary, pointing to Christmas 1554 as its likely commission date. It's sung here with customary perfection by The Cardinall's Musick, who polish other Tallis gems alongside it, most notably Videte miraculum, a work of such sensuous beauty it quite eclipses the Mass.

The Observer