Subtitled 'A Renaissance Christmas,' this collection of holiday and sacred music is drawn from the canons of De Prez, Byrd, Di Lasso and others of their caliber. Therefore, rather than the cheerful carols familiar to all who celebrate the season in the Western tradition, one finds the rather more subdued texture and mood of chant or counterpoint, as in Di Lasso's 'Resonet In Laudibus,' glorifying the birth of Jesus. This composition contains several sections that contain distinct rhythmic shifts and complex countermelodies; it expands in dimension with each listening. Tavener's 'Kyrie' implies the subtle majesty of a processional, the melody ascending in supplication. This is a wonderful alternative to the typical Christmas fare.