In this Renaissance sequence, The Sixteen provide a reflection on the services of the Divine Office sung before the concert and during the interval. Through works by Spanish, Italian, Flemish and English composers, they reveal how the ancient monastic tone texts formed the basis of magnificent polyphonic creations, from the spacious elaborations of John Sheppard to the sensuous settings of Victoria, the ground-breaking writing of Palestrina to the Catholic Byrd’s intricate, contrapuntal style, culminating in Anerio’s eight-part Magnificat.

Listen to the divine offices of Vespers and Compline being sung in the gallery at 6pm and in the interval.

Book of Hours – Vocal Workshop
Book of Hours – Pre-Concert talk