Reviewed by John Irvine

Henry's Eight are a male vocal group originally from Trinity College, Cambridge (which had been founded by Henry VIII) who specialise in 16th and 17th century men's vocal music. Women need not apply! This present collection focuses on the religious music of Nicholas Gombert who was born in French Flanders around the year 1500 and who eventually became Chapel Master for the Emperor of Spain. Having been condemned to the galleys for a most heinous crime - if you really want to know you can read the sleeve notes - he was pardoned on the basis of the quality of the music he wrote as a prisoner. Perhaps through the musical settings of religious texts he was seeking to atone for sins and find forgiveness. Who knows? Music historians are generally agreed that he earned the respect and admiration of his contemporaries for his works which appeared to be in such a unique and striking style that one contemporary writer declared that Gombert "shows all musicians the way...he composes music entirely different from the past." Included in this collection are two works worthy of note. "The Credo", published in 1564 after his death, is an outstanding work with an extremely well developed structure, varied and rich in mood, tone and texture. The "Salve Regina" (published in 1541) is a unique work incorporating no less than seven separate texts in praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with different pitches of voices singing different texts so that at any one time as many as four different melodies are sung at once. The result is wonderfully pleasing to the ear. A unique collection, of more than mere historical interest, and a tribute to Hyperion's policy of recording the little known or neglected parts of the repertory.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.