Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Before we issue some warnings we must make it clear that this is a beautifully sung and immaculately recorded release, featuring vocal works of the leading composer of his generation. Our caveats concern the fact that this is a re-issue on a different label of a recital recorded at Wardour Chapel, Tisbury in August 2000 and we note also that there is an identically titled CD already available on the Naxos label but this one recorded by the Tudor Consort under Peter Walls and released in November 2001. Personally, I think it possible to have too much Peter Philips so if you feel the same you may want to read the small print on the CD sleeves to check whether you have this in a different guise. Peter Philips (1560/61-1628) was an English Catholic at a time when this was a dangerous thing to be and certainly not a wise career move. Byrd (who may or may not have been a teacher of the younger Philips) got away with it but our man had to flee to the continent, where he wrote music of intricate, text-conscious colour, both deeply expressive and architecturally powerful. This CD is, as already stated, beautifully sung and we applaud the Sarum Consort for it. My reservation, other than the confusions noted above, is about the quality of the composition. Frankly, Philips is neither Byrd nor Tallis. Listeners who want to expand their collection of Tudor vocal music will need to get this CD and will be grateful for the budget price; those whose interest is not so deep would enjoy hearing this but will probably not return to it very often.

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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