Cantiones sacrae

There was no obvious place for Latin sacred music in Jacobean England since the Anglican church did not use a Latin liturgy and Catholic services were illegal. Yet, aside from the Gradualia of Byrd, a few Jacobean motets survive, sometimes in incomplete form, which may be why they are little known today. This edition presents eighteen of them by some of the most eminent madrigalists of the day, including Weelkes, Thomas Tomkins, and Wilbye, as well as lesser known composers like Alfonso Ferrabosco, Jr., Kirbye, Peerson, Ravenscroft, and Thomas Lupo. The Catholic patronage of certain composers suggests that some works may have been intended for clandestine Catholic services, but virtually all are found in secular partbooks and therefore undoubtedly found a place as part of the spectrum of private music-making for pious recreation. Six of the eighteen works are reconstructions and several others are published here for the first time.