Album Description

Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination – the British Library’s first major exhibition to bring together the Library’s Royal collection, a treasure trove of illuminated manuscripts from between the 9th and 16th centuries collected by the kings and queens of England between the 9th and 16th centuries. 

This CD is inspired by the exhibition and includes works performed by The Sixteen from the Eton Choirbook alongside fascinating pieces from medieval and Renaissance France, equally preserved in beautifully illuminated collections of manuscripts and performed here by The Hilliard Ensemble. And finally, one of the crowning glories of music from the Tudor period, Tallis’s monumental Spem in Alium.

Over the years it has been our overwhelming desire to rejoice in the survival of this great music. It is collections such as those preserved at the British Library that have enabled us to bring back to life the music that illuminated these fascinating periods in our history.

To download the texts and translations for this CD click here.

Artists

Track Listing

John Browne (fl.c.1490)
1. Salve Regina
(The Sixteen)                

Robert Wylkynson (c.1450-1515 or later)
2. Jesus autem transiens
(The Sixteen)

Anon c.1420 MS
3. Hail Mary full of Grace
(The Sixteen)

Richard Pygott (fl.1530)
4. Quid petis, O fili?
(The Sixteen)

Anon
5. Laude: Regina sovrana
(The Hilliard Ensemble)

William Cornysh (d.1523)
6. Ave Maria Mater Dei
(The Sixteen)

Anon
7. This day day dawes
(The Sixteen)

Riichard Davy (c.1465-1507)
8. Stabat mater
(The Sixteen) 

Anon (13th Century Aquitaine)
9. Christus surrexit
(The Hilliard Ensemble)    

Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474)
10. Agnus Dei from Missa Se le face ay pale
(The Hilliard Ensemble)

Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585)
11. Spem in Alium
(The Sixteen)

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 74.26