Musica Contexta was formed by Simon Ravens (a former assistant to Andrew Parrott) specifically to present Renaissance music in context--that is, in the sort of musical setting (e.g., a liturgy) for which it was conceived. Their auspicious debut record for Chandos re-creates a portion of the Sistine Chapel"s legendary Tenebræ services for Holy Week. They follow each lesson (taken from the Lamentations of Jeremiah) with a plainchant responsory and frame each Psalm with its plainchant antiphon. (This practice really does give Palestrina"s polyphony some breathing space, keeping it from becoming monotonous.) They add ornaments in the Benedictus and Miserere, as was standard at that time and place. Most importantly, they give Palestrina"s sweet, sad, soulful lamentations the performance they deserve. --Matthew Westphal