This recording presents the best performance of what is widely considered Josquin"s greatest work. "Pange lingua" is a well-known hymn for the Feast of Corpus Christi; Josquin doesn"t use the hymn-tune as a cantus firmus (i.e., in long note-values in the tenor), but makes each movement a fantasia on the melody. The Mass isn"t performed in complete liturgical context, but plainchant propers for Corpus Christi are included. On important feast days during the 16th century, plainchant was sung very slowly, with embellishments added by the singers. Ensemble Organum re-creates that practice here--it may strike some listeners as odd, but it"s fascinating. The performance of Josquin"s music is simply enthralling; the effect of the final "Agnus Dei" followed by the unadorned plainchant hymn is magical. --Matthew Westphal