Motets for six and eight voices:

Omnia tempus habent
Audi tellus
Ad Dominum cum tribularer
Media vita in morte sumus
Circumdederunt me dolores mortis
Libera me Domine
Recordare Jesu pie
Deficiat in dolore vita mea
Vidi calumnias
O mors quam amara
Cum essem parvulus
Vide homo

I was highly impressed by two previous recordings featuring the Cappella Amsterdam, the Bach: St John Passion and the Poulenc: Stabat Mater, and this one is yet another example of committed musicianship and exemplary singing. The only significant difference being that the first two combined orchestral and choral forces to great effect, whilst this new recording is strictly a cappella. But that is when a vocal ensemble can truly display its distinctive calibre. And this choir's enunciation, intonation and dynamic balance are in a class all their own, all finely-tuned by its director Daniel Reuss, who's been leading this ensemble for over 30 years now.

And lets not overlook the brilliant music by the Flemish composer Roland de Lassus (1530/32-1594), also known as Orlando di Lasso, whose music sits at the summit of the Franco-Flemish style of the Renaissance period. He was part of the fifth generation of a remarkable line of composers including DuFay, Ockeghem, Josquin des Prez, Gombert, etc ... He quickly became a master of sacred music. His style is characterized by a finely-calibrated balance between all voices, and an unfaltering forward momentum. All of which is well set forth in this admirable new recording.