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Are you kidding me? I love a cappella music; the unadorned human voice layered in gorgeous harmonies sets my senses aflutter. And I adore O Magnum Mysterium (especially the Tomas Luis da Victoria version), which was the featured number in my a cappella ensemble's holiday production 30 years ago (is that possible? THIRTY years ago...?). For me, this is the biggest no-brainer in the universe. O Magnum Mysterium is sweet music for any classical music aficionado, particularly for those who crave the gorgeous stylings of a well-mannered group like the Tiffany Consort.

Listening to this album created a blissful out-of-body experience; I spent the evening very well, floating on the heavenly sound for more than an hour. No popular carols here--just masterfully crafted choral music of the O Magnum Mysterium variety. The Tiffany Consort presents eight stellar voices, just one voice per part, and these eight soloists mix like the most magical alchemy. Some choral groups are thick with singers, and the overall impact is a bit soggy and indistinct. That's not the case here. The Tiffany Consort is crisp, clean, and in command. This album is apparently the group's first commercial recording, and it has first-rate production values thoughout.

Everything is well-crafted, and I cannot in good conscience recommend one track as superior to another. Let's just say that, in addition to the O Magnum Mysterium (da Victoria) track described above, the CD's longest cut, the Credo segment of da Victoria's work, provides an intricately gorgeous and uplifting trip.

Bravo, bravo! The Tiffany Consort will be keeping me company all season long!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

The Tiffany Consort
Nicholas White, Music Director
Cathleen Ellis and Jolie Greenleaf, sopranos
Ryland Angel and RObert Isaacs, altos
Philip Anderson and Oliver Brewer, tenors
Joseph Chappel and Mark Risinger, basses

Recorded June 14 and 15, 2004 at the Recital Hall, St. Michael's Church, New York City.

Produced, engineered, edited and mastered by Richard Price, Squires Productions, Inc.

Project Manager: Robert LaPorta. Art Direction and Design: Sharon Lee Ryder. Package Design: Eileen Preston

The Tiffany Consort

O Magnum Mysterium

Artist link

Track List