This ensemble is new, formed in 2003 by former choirboys of Westminster Abbey, including [Barnaby] Smith, who was a soloist; but the group now has mixed adult voices, though the women project a piercing white tone. Robert Parsons (c. 1530-1572) sang at the Chapel Royal, his place being given to William Byrd at his death. He fell into the river Trent in January, a fate that so affected his confreres that they ceased to sing his music. Yet a great deal of it has somehow survived. I have over a dozen single pieces in recorded collections (the Ave Maria is the most duplicated), but this is the first full disc. . . .The responds and the canticle are first recordings except for "Credo quod redemptor" (28:5). The six-voice Latin Magnificat is the longest single piece here, part of a tradition of large-scale canticles that may be found in the Eton Choir Book. The three selections from the Responds for the Dead are also set in Latin, so the Great Service is the only Anglican music (sung in English) heard here.

The new group did well to make a place for themselves by offering something as offbeat as a composer's first dedicated CD. Fortunately, they are sympathetic to the music. The two main works (the longest one and the most popular one) frame the program. In between, the three Latin responds, polyphonic settings of texts found even now in the chant editions for the Office of the Dead, alternate among the parts of the Great Service. . .Altogether, this disc gives us a better grasp of Robert Parsons than the single selections ever did. It should be noted that Parsons has also been represented fairly well in recorded collections by secular music, several pieces recurring over the years. This disc should be mandatory for Tudor music collections.

… My colleagues have already reviewed the Naxos recording in detail: RH thought the disc impressive, though he would have preferred greater attention to the English words – see review; MS was even more impressed – see review. I agree with them in welcoming the recording; it only remains for me to point out its availability as a download from classicsonline.com in very acceptable mp3 sound – actually at 320kbps, so even better than the 192kbps which is the classicsonline minimum – and with the opportunity to print the booklet from an Adobe Acrobat document. Those with keen hearing will always prefer wma or wav downloads, but 320kbps mp3 will be more than enough for the great majority of listeners. …Both my colleagues are lenient on Naxos’s omission of texts – they have to be downloaded from the Naxos website. …the second Parsons work, O bone Jesu, [is] a long piece which in no sense outstays its welcome in the excellent performance which it receives here.

Voces Cantabiles is a mixed-voice choir, though it does use exclusively male altos; the resulting sound is very close to that of a traditional cathedral choir, though with an added strength and security in the soprano line. Both choir and conductor prove trustworthy advocates of Parson’s music. The disc opens with the Magnificat, and the listener is immediately struck not only by the richness and complexity of Parsons’ writing but the vibrancy and clarity of Voces Cantabiles’ singing. This latter becomes even more apparent in the First Great Service, which is scored for double choir while providing ample scope for soloists to contribute to an overall atmosphere of luminous dignity. …The recorded sound is bright and attractive, while Smith’s booklet notes provide much useful information on the composer and his music.

"Barnaby Smith and Voces Cantabiles have created an impressive disc of Parsons’ music. The group numbers some 22 singers which means that the altos and tenors are singing two voices to a part in the eight-part music. This does not give us a luxuriantly well upholstered sound, instead you are aware of beautifully crafted vocal lines and a good interplay between individual voices. The group responds to Parsons’ music with enthusiasm and conveys this to their listeners." [...]