Roughly speaking classical music started just before 1400 in Flanders, where an unprecedented burst of creativity formed the Flemish School, producing the most amazing polyphonic choral textures, of the utmost complexity. The masses were written for the clerical courts of the time, in Flanders, France and Italy, and were performed in the regular church rites. Despite the theoretical complexity of the choral writing, the music is surrounded by an air of holiness, a serenity and peaceful spirituality which is as balm on the soul, also today.
Expert performances by the Schola Cantorum Stuttgart conducted by Clytus Gottwald, who also wrote the most informative and illuminating liner notes.