This release from Gloriæ Dei Cantores features sacred music from one of the most inspired periods in the arts: the Renaissance. Each of the European schools of composition (Italian, Flemish, German, Spanish, and English) is represented by a total of twenty composers, offering a fascinating cross-section of styles and influences. Great masters such as Lassus, Byrd, and Victoria are featured, as well as lesser-known composers such as Hassler, de Wert, and Nanino. The central work of this recording is the
Missa super Bella Amfitrit' altera
by Lassus, generally considered one of his finest works. Other selections include Anerio's tender and stirring
Requiem aeternum
and William Byrd's
Terra tremuit,
which has been described as "one of the most dramatic texts in the whole of music."