Credits:

John Mackey, Ambrosian Singers

Description:

This is a collection of Tudor church music, considered the golden age of English Renaissance music. Robert Fairfax and Hugh Aston are considered the earliest composers of this period. These two composers had a strong influence on later composers, especially John Taverner, who took over and developed their style. Then came Thomas Tallis, a well-known organist, who, although himself a Catholic, wrote works with English lyrics for Protestant audiences. William Byrd, who was also Catholic, wrote many works for the Catholic Church under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth I, despite being suppressed by the Church of England. Orlando Gibbons and other composers of Byrd's generation left further compositions for the Church of England. And Thomas Tomkins, who lived until the mid-17th century, is considered the last of the "Tudor church music" composers. This is a historical recording by the London Ambrosian Singers. Naxos Japan