Josquin des Prés: Missa Pange Lingua; Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi
This disc is very much a mixed bag. TheTallis Scholarsgive Josquin's greatPange linguaMass a rather pedestrian reading: all the variations Josquin works on the plainchant hymn tune are audible, but the balances are off (Phillips has transposed the music up to suit his sopranos and altos); some key rhythmic relationships were misread; and the singers sound yet again as if they'd rather be doing Palestrina. Something happened during the recording sessions, though, because theirMissa "la sol fa re mi"is stunning. The titular theme (A-G-F-D-E) of this inspired Mass is present throughout, run forward, backward, and upside-down by Josquin with ingenuity and beauty. The Tallis Scholars capture all the music's inspiration and spirituality in a performance that, quite frankly, seems touched by the Divine.--Matthew Westphal