Because of their remarkable intonation and vast repertoire, British male vocal quartet The Hilliard Ensemble were recognised as one of the preeminent period-music ensembles until their disbanding in 2014. Their approach to Bach's motets is playful and focused, while their clever arrangement of his Partita for Violin Solo No. 2 in D Minor adds dramatic vocal countermelodies to the already masterful composition. Their essential Renaissance recordings of works by composers like Nicolas Gombert, Thomas Tallis and Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina reveal the works' brilliant polyphony and deep pathos.
