Stile Antico - A Wondrous Mystery ~ Renaissance Choral Music for Christmas (2015)

An ensemble of breathtaking freshness, vitality and balance. (New York Times) Stile Antico s new Christmas programme of Renaissance polyphony features a glorious mass by the Flemish master Clemens non Papa, alongside traditional old-German carols and motets, many of them still sung to this day. An irresistibly festive collection! 'Stile Antico has become the gold standard in this repertory' (The Independent, UK)

Performance: **** Recording: ***** 'Stile Antico s performances are technically impeccable .. The sinuous yearning of Clemens s Agnus Dei is…a triumph of fluid phrasing and dynamic shaping, and a reminder of the formidable credentials of this group, currently celebrating its tenth anniversary.' –Terry Blain BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2015

'if you enjoy well sung Renaissance choral music this may well be the CD of the year … Musically, we hear polyphony sung extremely well by the twelve member vocal ensemble Stile Antico … If this genre is new to you then this well packaged release is a very good place to start.' –Steven Whitehead Cross Rhythms, 17th November 2015

I cannot speak too highly of this fine choir or this new release. They are beautifully recorded at All Hallows Church, Gospel Oak, London, UK and there are excellent notes in the nicely illustrated booklet, together with full texts and translations. A Wondrous Mystery from this Wondrous Choir. Buy, sit back and enjoy! –Bruce Reader The Classical Reviewer, 4th December 2015

Tracklist:
01. M. PRAETORIUS. Ein Kind geborn in Bethlehem
02. CLEMENS Non PAPA. Motet. Pastores quidnam vidistis
03. M. PRAETORIUS & M. VULPIUS. Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
04. CLEMENS Non PAPA. Missa Pastores quidnam vidistis. Kyrie
05. HANDL-GALLUS. Canite Tuba
06. CLEMENS Non PAPA. Missa Pastores quidnam vidistis. Gloria
07. H. PRAETORIUS. Magnificat quinti toni
08. HANDL-GALLUS. Mirabile mysterium
09. ECCARD. Übers Gebirg Maria geht
10. CLEMENS Non PAPA. Missa Pastores quidnam vidistis. Sanctus & Benedictus
11. ECCARD. Vom Himmel hoch
12. HASSLER. Hodie Christus natus est
13. CLEMENS Non PAPA. Missa Pastores quidnam vidistis. Agnus Dei