Peter Phillips & The Tallis Scholars

The Tallis Scholars—under the direction of founder Peter Phillips—is one of the most prolific and decorated choral groups of the last century, and through their excellence and scholarship they have helped to establish Renaissance Sacred music as a significant part of Western classical music today. The unified and pure sound which the Tallis Scholars weave from a diversity of voices is otherworldly. Their ability to capture both the deep emotion and consummate simplicity found in choral works of the Renaissance period has firmly established them as the leading performers of Renaissance sacred music throughout the world. Having recorded more of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina’s music than any other artist, no one could be more perfectly suited to pay homage to the 500th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Palestrina’s influence on the development of both secular and sacred music in Europe is undisputed, particularly in his mastery of counterpoint. A prolific composer, he wrote over 105 Mass settings and more than 200 motets in his lifetime. His nuanced interplay between melody and harmony and delicate approach to dynamic movement, rhythm, and dissonance reflect the eternal nature of beauty; the enduring appeal of his work speaks to the spiritual nature of the human soul. His music is the epitome of Renaissance choral composition and has continued to influence the musical landscape—religious and secular alike—up to this day.