Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

It would be nice to start with some biographical details but there is doubt as to the exact identity of this composer. Is the composer Pierre de la Rue the same man as the musician Peter vander Straten, known by a French and a Flemish name? We do not have time to enter into this debate (That's a relief. Ed) so let us assume that they are one and the same. As the 15th century came to an end, Pierre de la Rue was the leading composer working north of the Alps. A member of the Habsburg-Burgundian chapel, he composed polyphony for all the major services of the church. This budget-priced double CD has all seven surviving 'Magnificats' as well as three of his settings of the 'Salve Regina'. This could be too much of a good thing to be enjoyed in one go although the sumptuous singing of Viva Voce is a joy to hear, even if the choir does anachronistically include female voices. However, as a reference disc it is a valuable resource and the music is pleasantly tranquil. Those who enjoy medieval chant as an aid to meditation or as ambient background music should find these discs a worthwhile two hours.

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.

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