Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This three CDs for the price of one box set celebrates the 10th birthday of the multiple award winning early music vocal ensemble Stile Antico. From 2008 we get 'Heavenly Harmonies' featuring "Nine Psalm Tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter" by Thomas Tallis with Motets and a Mass by William Byrd. Next is 'Puer Natus Est', Tudor music for Advent and Christmas, first released in 2010 and featuring in addition to Byrd and Tallis, John Taverner, Robert White and John Sheppard. The most recent of the trio is 'The Phoenix Rising' from 2013, sub-titled 'The Carnegie UK Trust And The Revival Of Tudor Church Music' and featuring more from Byrd, Tallis, Taverner and White plus Orlando Gibbons and Thomas Morley. By now either you are clapping your hands in glee and checking to see whether you already have these CDs in your collection or you are wondering what the fuss is about. Trust me: Stile Antico sing very well indeed and the creative explosion of new music during the English Renaissance of the 16th century is worth exploring. I repeat my opening comment: three CDs for the price of one. If you have yet to enter the world of Tudor church music this is a splendid introduction and if you already have one of the three CDs on offer this is still excellent value.

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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