Orlande de Lassus, Europe’s most famous musician during his lifetime, created nothing finer than the 'Lagrime di San Pietro', a collection of 20 spiritual madrigals and one motet for seven voices. A cycle of intense reflections on the sorrows of St Peter following his denial of Christ, it was assembled shortly before the composer’s death in 1594 and dedicated to Pope Clement VIII. Into this collection Lassus pours every dramatic nuance and piece of harmonic invention he could possibly muster, hurling the listener through the stages of Peter’s rage, remorse and resignation, and concluding with a motet which presents Christ’s response to the world.

Gallicantus (Latin for ‘song of the rooster’) add to their already impressive catalogue of works on Signum with this new recording. Their previous release 'The Word Unspoken', sacred music by William Byrd and Philippe de Monte, was picked as a critics' choice disc 2012 by BBC Radio 3 CD Review.