Devotion to Our Lady
The Sixteen
Harry Christophers, director
Collins 15012

This is a recording of some wonderful Victoria compositions. The CD contains Victoria's 8-part Missa Salve Regina, a hymn, three Marian motets, Victoria's Ave Maria (8 parts) and the 2-choir magnificent. Unfortunately this wonderful CD, and (the other Victoria CDs on this label) are difficult to find. It seems the Collins CD label is no longer extant. 

• Antiphon and Mass Salve Regina: Victoria's 8-part masterful setting of the Salve Regina antiphon and the 8-part mass based on that setting.

• Antiphon Regina caeli laetare: This Marian Antiphon was sung from Easter Sunday until the Friday after Pentecost. This is one of the two settings composed by Victoria, this one for two 4-part choirs (the other is in 5-parts). This is a beautiful, joyous composition, a masterpiece of glorious music. And this may be the first time it has been recorded.

• Antiphon Alma redemptoris mater: The four well-known Marian Antiphons of the catholic liturgy were originally sung as "true antiphons" surrounding psalms and magnificats, but later attained a status of their own at the end of the compline service, each assigned to a particular time of the year. Alma redemptoris mater was sung during the period from Advent until the Feast of the Purification. This setting for two 4-part choirs, is one of two that Victoria composed (the other in five parts). Victoria composed a total of ten different settings of Marian Antiphons, all masterpieces.

• Hymn Ave maris stella: This beautiful Marian hymn is devoted to the mother of Jesus.

• Motet Ave Maria: Victoria's Ave Maria for two 4-part choirs.

• Magnificat: This magnificent composition presents Victoria in one of his finest moments. Composed for two 4-part choirs, this magnificat was one of two that Victoria composed for multiple choirs, (the other for three choirs). These two compositions contrasted with the set of sixteen magnificats that were composed by Victoria for use in the daily singing of vespers. 
  

Missa Vidi Speciosam
Choir of Westminster Cathedral
David Hill, director
Hyperion CDA66129

A fine recording of Victoria's motet and mass Vidi Speciosam, one hymn, and two motets.

• Motet and mass Vidi speciosam:  The Vidi speciosam mass is based on his motet Vidi speciosam for six voices (It was a practice among composers of this period to create masses using material from other compositions). Victoria's mass is in six parts.

• Motet Ave Maria: This well-known 4-part motet is attributed to Victoria, but it is very, very doubtful that it was actually composed by Victoria at all. This appears to be one of those unfortunate occurrences where a piece of old music has been misidentified as to composer, and this misidentification has become 'fact.'

• Motet Ne timeas, Maria: Victoria's beautiful Marian motet.

• Motet Sancta Maria, succurre miseris: Victoria's beautiful Marian motet. 

• Hymn Ave Maris stella:  This beautiful Marian hymn is devoted to the mother of Jesus.

Victoria Responsories for Tenebrae
Westminster Cathedral Choir
David Hill, director
Hyperion CDA66304

A great recording of all of Victoria's responsories for the Holy Week Matins (Tenebrae) Service. See DoveSong's Holy Week Music for more information about the music of Tenebrae.

Victoria O Magnum Mysterium and Ascendens Christus in Altum
Westminster Cathedral Choir
David Hill, director
Hyperion CDA66190

A great recording of two of Victoria's masses.

• Motet and Mass O Magnum Mysterium:  The O Magnum Mysterium mass is based on Victoria's motet of the same name and both are for a 4-part choir (It was a practice among composers of this period to create masses using material from other compositions). The motet is probably Victoria's most celebrated composition. The mass is stunning, the motet has a haunting beauty not soon to be forgotten.

• Motet and Mass Ascendens christus in altum:  The Ascendens christus in altum mass is based on Victoria's motet of the same name and both are for a 5-voice choir.