Here are 16 of Philippe de Monte’s 250 or so motets‚ a small specimen selection of the output of this very prolific composer from The Netherlands‚ who also wrote countless Masses as well as Italian madrigals and French chansons. This selection includes psalm settings‚ antiphons‚ responsories‚ paraliturgical devotional texts‚ and one unexpected item‚ the text of the capitulum‚ or short scripture reading‚ for Sunday Lauds. This piece starts the whole programme off: normally sung by a solo voice‚ it is a text from Revelation set by de Monte for triple choir! During the time of the Renaissance it is a fact that courtly chapels vied with each other in magnificence and Maximillian II’s Imperial Chapel in Vienna was no exception. This opening piece is a brilliant tribute to the everlasting greatness of the Divinity‚ a splendid introduction‚ sung with brightness and clarity. The variety of what follows shows de Monte’s ability to express in music texts as different as the penitential Miserere mei‚ Deus‚ the intimate O bone Jesu‚ or the joyful Laudate (Psalm 150). He does it with the utmost polyphonic skill‚ well­ judged restraint‚ and great artistic beauty. Currende‚ under Erik van Nevel‚ respond with energy. It was unusual‚ to my ears‚ to hear so much of this type of music accompanied by an ensemble of Renaissance violin‚ viols and organ. The result is a rich tapestry of sound‚ almost too rich‚ though I did enjoy the instrumental preludes in themselves. An original presentation‚ and it succeeds.