The Eton Choirbook

Album review

The Eton Choirbook is a precious collection of liturgical musical Latin manuscripts compiled at the end of the 15th century, one of the rare documents to have survived the ravages of the Anglican Reformation. Now, it hasn't survived in its entirety, but it does contain several dozen pieces, a few of which only exist in this single manuscript. In those days, the Choir of Eton College (an ultra-elite establishment across the way from Windsor Castle) was all boys – the students, so sopranos and altos – and some men with deeper voices; and recently a few women have joined in on occasion, from outside the ranks of the all-male school. The Huelgas Ensemble has asked their women singers – there are no young boys in this marvellous ensemble – to help retain the sound of the originals by reproducing boys' voices: slightly acid, smooth, without vibrato. It's a complete success, not least as these ladies run no risk of their voices breaking, or the little errors that are so common in even the best-trained boys' choirs. In other words, this is a magnificent recording. We can only regret that the Huelgas have only taken 60 pieces from the manuscript! But the selection is very judicious, offering pieces for 5, 6, 7, and even 9 singers. © SM/Qobuz