In musical terms, the Renaissance period is defined as roughly 1430 to 1600, and precedes the Baroque era of Bach, Vivaldi and Handel. The programme begins with the inspiring ‘Miserere mei, Deus’ by Allegri, heard in a number of films including Face/Off , and then presents extracts from moving liturgical works by major composers such as Palestrina, Byrd and Dufay, as well as the monumental 40-part motet Spem in alium by Thomas Tallis. Also included are some lively secular pieces by Josquin, Willaert and King Henry VIII, and the set concludes with several items by Monteverdi from his seminal operas Orfeo and L’incoronazione di Poppea. Performers include the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Le Concert d’Astrée, the Hilliard Ensemble, the King’s Singers, the Ricercare Ensemble für Alte Musik, Zürich, and the Taverner Consort and Players, under various directors including Stephen Cleobury, Paul Hillier, Emmanuelle Haïm, Andrew Parrott, Jordi Savall and Sir David Willcocks.

Artists

Timothy Beasley-Murray (soprano), Barry Rose (organ), The Hilliard Ensemble (vocal ensemble), Paul Hillier (director), Alan Wilson (organ), Taverner Consort (vocal ensemble), David Munrow (director), David James (vocals), Gordon Jones (bass-baritone), John Potter (tenor), John Potter Clay (vocals), Mark Padmore (vocals), Ricercare-Ensemblefür Alte Music Zürich, Paul O'Dette (lute), Hopkinson Smith (lute), King's Singers (vocal ensemble), Ensemble Vocal & Instrumental Roger Blanchard, Anthony Rooley (director), Alan Ewing (bass), Allan Parkes (bass), Andrew King (tenor), Emma Kirkby (soprano), Evelyn Tubb (soprano), Kristine Szulik (alto), Mary Nichols (alto), Paul Agnew (tenor), David Thomas (bass), Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor), Arleen Auger (soprano), Della Jones (mezzo-soprano), Choir of King's College Cambridge, The Clerkes Of Oxenford, Ambrosian Singers, Brass Ensemble, Choir of St John's College Cambridge, Kees Boeke Consort, Taverner Choir, Early Music Consort of London, Ensemble Gilles Binchois, Ricercare-Ensemble für Alte Musik, Zürich, Tragicomedia, Le Concert d'Astrée, Consort of Musicke, Taverner Players, City of London Baroque Sinfonia, Stephen Cleobury, Philip Ledger, David Wulstan, Denis Stevens, Sir David Willcocks, George Guest, Kees Boeke, Andrew Parrott, Dominique Vellard, Emmanuelle Haïm, Richard Hickox