Search - Heinrich Isaac, Tallis Scholars, Jeremy White :: Heinrich Isaac: Missa de Apostolis/Motets - Tallis Scholars (Gimell)

Heinrich Isaac is underrepresented on records today, but in his time he and Josquin were considered Europe's preeminent composers. While Josquin preferred four-voice scorings and short melodies that he could work and rework, Isaac preferred richer five-and-six-voice textures and longer, more luxuriant melodies. The centerpiece of this disc (certainly the best Isaac disc available), the Missa de apostolis, has some peculiarities typical of German/Austrian Masses around 1500: the Credo is not set to polyphony by the composer and every movement alternates line-by-line between polyphony and plainchant. Isaac makes the cycle seem integrated by incorporating the chant melodies into his polyphony. Other highlights include the tender, rapturous motet Tota pulchra es and the spectacular Virgo prudentissima, with skittering duo sections interspersed with massive six-voice tuttis. --Matthew Westphal