If you prefer medieval purity to oversweet harmonies this is a must, though the title doesn’t give much away. With voices one to a part (eight singers are named), the superb Marian Consort perform Renaissance Christmas music by the Frenchman Jean Mouton, the Spaniard Cristóbal de Morales and the Italian Annibale Stabile, from the 15th and 16th centuries. The delivery is clean, unadorned, unaccompanied and undemonstrative, drawing the listener in by quiet persuasion and musical intelligence of the highest order. An alternative for those hungry for full, rich Christmas fare, from Hark! The Herald Angels Sing with clarion brass fanfare to the irresistible Angel’s Carol: The John Rutter Songbook (Classic FM) on two discs, one of carols, one of Rutter classics, will annoy, charm and delight.
