This two discs set includes selections of the best of previous Tallis Scholars Christmas recordings and includes medieval carols, German chorale harmonisations, complete polyphonic settings of the Mass based on Christmas themes, and motets dedicated to Mary and Joseph. Disc one includes the monumental Missa Pastores quidnam vidistis and the motet it parodies, both by the Flemish composer Jacob Clemens non Papa. The style of both the motet and the Mass is typical of Clemens's conservative interpretation of the Flemish way of composition, unfolding with great deliberation, every clause of words being given its own exposition in the polyphony. It is a classic style, capable of the greatest subtlety and variation of expression, while always inviting the listener to search more deeply into the music. Clemens uses a five-voice choir SSATB except in the final movement where he adds a second bass part. The second disc is dedicated much more specifically to plainchant, and music based on chant. It begins with the contents of the only record The Tallis Scholars have so far made of chant alone. This collection consisted entirely of music written for Christmas, beginning with the complete Mass 'at cockcrow' or 'in gallicantu'. This would have been celebrated at daybreak on Christmas Eve, and is taken from the Sarum rite. It begins with an Introit which moves straight into a troped Kyrie, the trope 'Deus Creator omnium' actually replacing the original words 'Kyrie eleison' and running to nine invocations (a 'trope' could be either a musical or a textual addition to traditional material). The Gloria begins with an intonation from the altar, the bulk of the text following in the syllabic style of the Kyrie. In addition to the Mass included are four hymns proper to the different Offices for Christmas Day: Christe Redemptor omnium is from Matins; Veni, Redemptor gentium is from Vespers; Salvator mundi, Domine is from Compline, and A solis ortus cardine from Lauds. These are amongst the best-known plainchant hymn tunes, which may often be heard today whether in Latin or the venacular. The disc also includes Tallis's Missa Puer natus est nobis, which is based on the Christmas plainchant of the same name.