V4: Palestrina

Harry Christophers and The Sixteen continue their exploration of Palestrina s work with the fourth disc in their celebrated series. This album features a selection of Palestrina s music for Christmas including his largely unknown masterpiece, the Missa O magnum mysterium. Also presented are several unusual hymn settings including A solis ortus cardine, a setting of a famous chant hymn for Christmas morning. Alongside the hymns are motets from the Song of Songs, some of Palestrina s most sublime and expressive works and as with the previous disc in the series, this album includes three of them. Completing the recording are three double-choir motets
(a genre in which Palestrina was unsurpassed): Ave Regina, Iubilate Deo, and Surge illuminare.