Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Here we have two anonymous pieces that are hugely significant in the development of Western music. 'The Mass Of Tournai' was written in what is now Belgium in the 14th century and the 'St Luke Passion' is from 15th century England. Both are written for three vocal parts, are sung in Latin and are unaccompanied. Translations are supplied along with informative notes by the director of Tonus Peregrinus, Antony Pitts. The significance of both works is that they are early examples of the move from so-called Gregorian chant to polyphony that mark, in musical terms, the change from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Tonus Peregrinus, a relatively new vocal ensemble from Oxford, are serving us well by opening up these forgotten works and those music loving people at Naxos are to be applauded for making the recording available at a budget price.

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