Sheppard - Media vita
Stile Antico
Harmonia Mundi HMU807509

Release date January 2010

One of the great pleasures of Renaissance music is the continual unearthing of neglected masters, standing testament to the consistant standards of a golden age. And Sheppard until the last two or three decades certainly has been one of those neglected masters, almost totally obscured by the looming bulk of Tallis’s achievements. But thankfully this is changing, and the Gramophone award-winning Stile Antico’s new disc should certainly help speed this up. What first strikes the listener is the sheer luxuriant richness of the sonority. This should be no surprise as Sheppard often writes in six parts with frequent subdivisions. Stylistically closer to the Eton Choirbook than contemporary continental practice, these parts intertwine through strikingly rich harmonies, daring false relations and extended forms creating a mesmeric, solemn effect. Nowhere else is this more evident than in Media Vita, an epic meditation on mortality that comes in at over 25 minutes of lush, richly detailed and moving polyphony. Gaude, gaude, gaude Maria and the Te Deum are again very impressive essays in extended polyphonic form. Also included are fine settings of English anthems and a very fine setting of The Lord’s Prayer. These are shorter works but still have that highly individual sense of contrapuntal control and opulent harmonic character that defines Sheppard’s style. Stile Antico present this music wonderfully well. Performing without a conductor and blessed with excellent intonation and clarity, they send their lines soaring through the folds of polyphonic fabric with effortless grace. It is perhaps wrong to single out anyone for praise in such a cohesive group, but the sopranos acquit themselves particularly well in challenging parts of great vocal range.

Reviewed by James Booth