Sheppard: Media vita

The New College Choir (16 boys and 14 adults) is quite large but its engagingly fulsome sound is kept nicely in focus by the acoustics of the moderately sized church in which it was recorded.... — BBC Music Magazine, February 2021, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 23rd Oct 2020
Catalogue No: CKD632
Label: Linn
Length: 71 minutes

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Sheppard, J: A solis ortus cardine

Work length8:59

Choir of New College Oxford, Robert Quinney

Sheppard, J: Inclina Domine

Work length5:34

Choir of New College Oxford, Robert Quinney

Sheppard, J: Iudica me Deus

Work length9:39

Choir of New College Oxford, Robert Quinney

Sheppard, J: Deus misereatur

Work length8:45

Choir of New College Oxford, Robert Quinney

Sheppard, J: Confitebor tibi

Work length6:12

Choir of New College Oxford, Robert Quinney

Sheppard, J: Sacris solemniis

Work length8:23

Choir of New College Oxford, Robert Quinney

Sheppard, J: Media vita

Work length24:23

Choir of New College Oxford, Robert Quinney

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About

The Choir of New College Oxford, one of the most acclaimed British choral ensembles, makes its Linn debut with a recording of works by the English Renaissance composer John Sheppard.

New College Choir was already 150 years old when Sheppard arrived in Oxford intent on contributing to the wealth of choral polyphony that defined the era.

Media vita is his most celebrated work, almost symphonic in its proportions, in which he combines and elevates conventional Tudor musical devices to striking effect.

Sheppard's boundary-pushing polyphony requires the skill and precision of liturgical professionals, and in the hands of director Robert Quinney it is compelling.

The programme is completed by several motets in which Sheppard sets text from the Old Testament; we are delighted that four of these motets are premiere recordings: A solis ortus cardine, Inclina Domine, Iudica me Deus and Confitebor tibi.

This is another distinctive and stylish performance from this acclaimed choir, which marks the first in a new series of recordings for Linn Records.

Reviews

February 2021

The New College Choir (16 boys and 14 adults) is quite large but its engagingly fulsome sound is kept nicely in focus by the acoustics of the moderately sized church in which it was recorded. Their rich, warm sound comes across best in A solis ortus cardine and in the superb motet Media Vita of the title – the lower voices are in balance and the boys voices gain brightness from the slightly high performance pitch.

December 2020

There are many reasons why this new release from the Choir of New College Oxford directed by Robert Quinney will not disappoint, and chief among them are four premiere recordings and a consistently radiant sound with confident, purposeful phrasing...it is pleasing to hear Sheppard’s monumental Media vita sounding so rich and full, with a memorable countertenor sound.

18th October 2020

Robert Quinney shapes graceful performances, with Sheppard’s often dense textures never feeling congested, and the New College boys’ sound is pleasingly open and natural.

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