Two sciences - musicology and electronics - have joined forces to make possible this unique recording. In it the splendor of Gabrieli's musical conceptions is presented with as absolute an authenticity of style and color as modern research in the Baroque and Renaissance eras have made possible. The scholars did their part, the performers were rehearsed, and then the burden was thrown to the engineers. There are few more challenging musical-engineering projects than that of recording these Gabrieli motets as the composer conceived them in sound. Added to the problem of refinements of balance between voices and supporting instruments was the spatial character of Gabrieli's conceptions. Often he employed two and even three antiphonal choirs, with the music flowing from one to the other, and sometimes pealed forth by all together, filling the great hall. How triumphantly this challenge has been met may be heard on the present Vanguard Quality Control recording. Each motet represented a different problem in balance and placing of equipment. Especially designed microphones, tape recorders and amplifiers were employed to reproduce masters which embody a frequency response covering the entire range of human hearing and embrace the full gamut of instrumental and vocal sonorities.

Track Listings 
  1.    Sancta et immacula virginitas 
  2.    O magnum mysterium 
  3.    Nunc dimitis 
  4.    Angelus ad pastores ait 
  5.    O Jesu me dulcissime 
  6.    Exaudi Deus 
  7.    Hodie completi sunt dies pentecostes 
  8.    O Domine Jesu Christe 
  9.    Sacrae symphoniae, Book 1: Canzona quarti toni a 15 
  10.    Inclina Domine