Missa Gloria Tibi Trinitas

"Most of this comes from a CD of 1986 which was itself a reissue of an LP from 1984. But by adding their more recent recording of the Western Wind Mass The Tallis Scholars have created an anthology containing some of Taverner's most remarkable music: the two most famous Masses alongside two of his loveliest smaller works.

"For the Western Wind Mass The Tallis Scholars present themselves at their most mandarin: everything beautifully in place, gentle, soothing, immaculate. The marvellous range of inventive lines that Taverner weaves around this trite little melody is given full scope to blossom and grow. Nothing is hurried or allowed to stand out too much. This is in striking contrast to their much earlier approach to the Mass Gloria Tibi Trinitas: here Peter Phillips takes the music very much by the scruff of the neck, changing pace and textures to articulate the massively complex six-voice textures. This is a tremendously exciting performance because it so often throws caution to the winds. In other words, some listeners may find the Western Wind a touch bland and Gloria Tibi Trinitas a touch rough, but it makes for an exciting and varied record. And nobody could possibly resist the still beauty they give to the 'Leroy' Kyrie."

David Fallows (Gramophone, December 1995)