English Motets: Exploring Renaissance masterpieces from the Golden Age of polyphony in England

During the Renaissance musical composition flourished, but it was a time of great change, fuelled by religious division. This programme traces music written by some of the English Renaissance masters over a period of 200 years, encompassing florid medieval-sounding pieces by Pygott and Cornysh, intricately woven polyphonic works by Tallis and Byrd, and the beautiful simplicity of Mundy and Tomkins.

Featuring music by Tallis, Byrd, William Cornysh, John Taverner, Walter Frye, Richard Pygott, Orlando Gibbons, Thomas Weelkes, William Mundy, Sheryngham, Robert Ramsey and Thomas Thomkins.

The Gesualdo Six
Owain Park artistic director, bass
Guy James countertenor
Alasdair Austin countertenor
Joseph Wicks tenor
Josh Cooter tenor
Simon Grant baritone