Album

Aside from how tremendous the music is and how terrific the performances are, the first thing one notices about this disc is how good it sounds. With incredibly warm and unbelievably immediate sound, Harmonia Mundi has always been one of the best classical labels in the world. But, even by its standards, the sound of the Choir of Magdalen College (Oxford) is palpably real, with the singers' breath blowing lightly on the hair on the nape of the neck.

But beyond the sound, the music itself is tremendous. Christopher Tye was right up there with his contemporary Thomas Tallis when it came to Anglican church music. Aside from the rightness of the harmonies and the gracefulness of the lines, Tye's music partakes of the essence of the greatest sacred music: the fusion of time with eternity. From ecstatic melody to blessed polyphony, Tye's music sings with the proud and independent spirit of the Church of England.

And beyond the music, the performances are terrific. A follow-up to a wonderful disc of Orlando Gibbons, Bill Ives leads the Choir of Magdalen College in interpretations of rapturous precision, with the clarity of diction, the lucidity of textures, and the warmth of tone of the best English choirs of the past century. Interspersed with the performances are four of Tye's organ works performed by Richard Pinel. With a touch like water over rocks and a tone like the wind through the leaves, Pinel's playing is a force of nature. Anyone with ears to hear will enjoy this disc.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Christopher Tye Composer Omnes Gentes, Plaudite Manibus for 5 voices Work Magdalen College Choir (Oxford) Chorus/Choir, Richard Pinel Organ
1	Omnes Gentes, Plaudite Manibus for 5 voices	4:58			$0.99
Christopher Tye Composer In pace in idipsum Work Magdalen College Choir (Oxford) Chorus/Choir, Richard Pinel Organ
2	In pace in idipsum	6:10			$0.99
Christopher Tye Composer Dum Transisset a 5 Work Byrde Recorder Ensemble, Richard Pinel Organ
3	Dum Transisset a 5	3:02			$0.99
Christopher Tye Composer I lift my heart to Thee Work Magdalen College Choir (Oxford) Chorus/Choir, Richard Pinel Organ
4	I lift my heart to Thee	3:59			$0.99
Christopher Tye Composer Save me, O God, for thy name's sake, for 4 voices Work Magdalen College Choir (Oxford) Chorus/Choir, Richard Pinel Organ
5	Save me, O God, for thy name's sake, for 4 voices	3:56			$0.99
Christopher Tye Composer Praise ye the Lord, ye children, for 4 voices Work Magdalen College Choir (Oxford) Chorus/Choir, Richard Pinel Organ
6	Praise ye the Lord, ye children, for 4 voices	3:57			$0.99
Christopher Tye Composer Fantasia 'Rubum Quem' a 5 Work Byrde Recorder Ensemble, Richard Pinel Organ
7	Fantasia 'Rubum Quem' a 5	1:21			$0.99
Christopher Tye Composer Magnificat & Nunc dimittis for 4 voices Work 6:54 Magdalen College Choir (Oxford) Chorus/Choir, Richard Pinel Organ
8	Magnificat	4:36			$0.99
9	Nunc dimittis	2:18			$0.99
Christopher Tye Composer Christus Resurgens a 5 Work Byrde Recorder Ensemble, Richard Pinel Organ
10	Christus Resurgens a 5	2:19			$0.99
Christopher Tye Composer To father, son and holy ghost Work Magdalen College Choir (Oxford) Chorus/Choir, Richard Pinel Organ
11	To father, son and holy ghost	2:50			$0.99
Christopher Tye Composer Misere Mei, Deus for 5 voices Work Magdalen College Choir (Oxford) Chorus/Choir, Richard Pinel Organ
12	Misere Mei, Deus for 5 voices	10:11			Album Only
Christopher Tye Composer Amavit a 5 Work Byrde Recorder Ensemble, Richard Pinel Organ
13	Amavit a 5	2:49			$0.99
Christopher Tye Composer Peccavimus cum patribus nostris for 7 voices Work Magdalen College Choir (Oxford) Chorus/Choir, Richard Pinel Organ
14	Peccavimus cum patribus nostris for 7 voices	13:28			Album Only