This recording takes us on a fantasy choral journey using the traditional services of Vespers and Benediction as its guide. It weaves hypnotic plainchant around renaissance gems and modern masterpieces. The music of the great Renaissance masters, Palestrina, Guerrero and Anerio sit alongside distinctive voices from the twenty-first century: James MacMIllan, Julian Anderson, John Joubert, Sven-David Sandström and Matthew Martin.
CD1
· Sanctissima Vespers and Benediction for the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Vespers
· Bells (0'52)
· Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-1594) Assumpta est Maria (6'15)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Deus in adjutorium (0'54)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Assumpta est Maria in cælum (0'23)
· David Bednall (b. 1979) Assumpta est Maria* (3'36)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Dixit Dominus (1'59)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Assumpta est Maria (0'27)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Maria Virgo assumpta est (0'29)
· Olivier Tarney (b. 1984) In Homeward Flight* (4'48)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Laudate pueri (1'47)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Maria Virgo assumpta est (0'32)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] In odorem unguentorum quorum currimus (0'24)
· John Joubert (1927-2019) Reflection on the plainchant antiphon "In odorem"* (3'54)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Lætatus sum (2'04)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] In odorem unguentorum quorum currimus (0'27)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Benedicta filia tua Domino (0'29)
· Giles Swayne (b.1946) Benedicta filia* (3'51)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Nisi Dominus (1'45)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Benedicta filia tua Domino (0'31)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Pulchra es et decora filia Jerusalem (0'29)
· Kim Porter (b.1965) Pulchra es et decora* (3'47)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Lauda Jerusalem Dominum (2'19)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Pulchra es et decora, filia Jerusalem (0'29)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Ave Maris Stella (2'56)
· James MacMillan (b.1959) Ave Maris Stella (4'26)CD2
Vespers & Benediction
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Exaltata est (0'38)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Hodie Maria Virgo cælos ascendit (0'32)
· Julian Anderson (b. 1967) Magnificat (9'16)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Hodie Maria Virgo cælos ascendit (0'35)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Benedicamus Domino (0'31)
Benediction
· Sven-David Sandström (1942-2019) O salutaris hostia (4'03)
· Francisco Guerrero (1528-1599) Ave Virgo sanctissima (4'01)
· Matthew Martin (b. 1976) Sanctissima (4'15)
· Sven-David Sandström (1942-2019) Tantum ergo (2'58)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Adoremus (1'39)
· Anonymous [Plainchant] Ave Regina cælorum (1'26)
· Felice Anerio (1560-1614) Ave Regina cælorum (5'19)
