Early music fans know the Orlando Consort or at least have followed the individual exploits of its four members in various other equally distinguished groups, and not surprisingly this new release shows these singers' continued commitment to shining light into darker, unexplored corners of the repertoire. Here, it's composers such as John Pyamour, John Plummer, John Trouluffe, and Richard Mowere, in addition to better known names such as John Dunstable and Walter Lambe (as well as a few entries from "anonymous"), in music (primarily votive antiphons) that shows considerable freedom of invention and exceptional rhythmic vitality. Among the most beautiful works is Tota pulcra es by a composer identified only by the last name Forest (a good bet is that his first name was "John"!), whose rich harmony and gently flowing melody seem to perfectly suit the Orlando Consort voices. Dunstable's isorhythmic motet Salve scema sanctitatis is not as "pretty" but rather is primarily impressive for its dizzyingly complex rhythms and for the virtuosity of the four singers' performance. Indeed, this is rare music, but its sound is certainly not unfamiliar. In fact, there's a certain cohesiveness and continuity to this collection of works that, if you listen to the entire disc at once, gives the impression of a complementary set whose variety of texts and compositional styles serve to make a pleasing whole. The sound, from a church in Scotland, is ideal--warm yet resonant and expertly balanced while preserving clearly defined individual vocal lines.

--David Vernier