Rice, who founded this ensemble in 1998, just completed his doctorate on the motets of Gombert, so he is focusing his work on a narrow period of the 16th century. The members of the group have scarcely one familiar name from established Oxford vocal groups, but we hear the familiar pure tones that are favored there in Renaissance music. The program opens with the lengthy two-part motet on which the Mass is based. Then a motet is inserted after the Gloria and each succeeding movement of the Mass, with an extra motet at the end for Charles V, one that we did not hear on any of the three recent discs devoted to the emperor.

This is captivating music, sung with exquisite precision as well as feeling. The forward movement is lively without sounding rushed, and dynamics are shaded finely. The group’s lightness of execution belies their number (14 mixed voices), somewhat larger than comparable British vocal ensembles. This is a promising group, one to watch. Hear their first effort, and remember the name.

J. F. Weber, FANFARE