Sebastián de Vivanco stands, without doubt, as one of the most neglected composers of the Spanish Golden Age. Ironically, the greatest contribution to this neglect is the accident of his having been born in Ávila at about the same time as that other colossus of Spanish music from Ávila, Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611). Blinded, perhaps, by the stunning brilliance of Victoria, scholars and performers alike have been slow to discern an equally bright star sparkling in the same constellation.

This important recording from the Orchestra of the Renaissance, directed by Richard Cheetham and Michael Noone, first released by Glossa in 2002 and now happily incorporated into the Glossa Cabinet collection, captures the music of Vivanco – and, in particular his Missa in manus tuas, in all its splendour.