New recording from the London Oratory Schola boys choir – Terrific!

I was contacted by the director of the boys choir of the London Oratory.  They have made wonderful recordings, discs/downloads, in the past.  The present is no exception.   There is a new collection available for pre-order:

Sacred Treasures of Rome

Links below.

Sacred Treasures of Rome is a new recording from the boys of the London Oratory Schola directed by Charles Cole.  It focuses on Palestrina in this, his quincentennial year, as well as other composers working in his orbit in Rome.

The London Oratory Schola is an all-boys choir with an average age of fourteen across the four voice parts.

The album includes some of the great iconic motets by Palestrina such as Tu es Petrus, Sicut cervus and Dum complerentur.

I’ve just listened to the album I was privileged to receive in advance.  Wow.

The (digital) booklet has fascinating and fun tidbits., including things about my guy St. Philip Neri.

Did you know that Palestrina died in the arms of St. Philip Neri?

Did you know that the mother of the composer Felice Anerio did St. Philip’s laundry?

Did you know that Giovanni Maria Nanino was buried beneath the Caravaggio’s in the Contarelli chapel in San Luigi dei Francesi?

One thing which many of the composers on the disc share was a connection with St Philip, who founded The Parish™ in Rome.  The disc has a motet by Giovanni Animuccia, who was one of St Philip’s brother priests during the early beginnings of the Oratory at San Girolamo della Carità, which is literally across the way from the door of my former apartment.  Much of Animuccia’s music has been lost, aside from some beautiful editions of his three Masses and some motets in the Vatican Libraries. The fate of the rest is a mystery, though an ignominious legend exists that the scores were sold to a Roman cheesemonger to wrap his wares, such was the value of parchment paper at the time. Fortunately, a few motets can be found scattered across part-books, one of which, O crux ave spes unica, has been reconstructed for this recording.

The album also includes works by other composers who had connections to the Rome Oratory including Allegri, the Anerio brothers and Giovannelli (of Velletri), who succeeded Palestrina.

The London Oratory Schola will be touring the USA in July and singing much of this music both in liturgical and concert contexts, including an appearance at the Palestrina500 Festival.

Sacred Treasures of Rome is released worldwide on all major platforms on 4 July 2025.  It is available NOW for pre-order.

Link for preview of Sicut cervus, Palestrina: HERE

Amazon USA link for album: HERE

Amazon UK link for album: HERE