Phil, Among my favorites are- Schola Cantorum Of St Peter's In The Loop - Sing The God Of Ultimate Justice: Music For The End Of Time. J.Michael Thompson, Conductor
In This Place, Frank La Rocca, composer; Arts Vocal Ensemble
Although long out of print, my favorite recording is the late Theodore Marier performing "Four Pieces", Op. 71 -- Flor Peeters. The recording was made at St. Paul Church, Cambridge, MA c. 1960. The organ is a Woodbury / Casavant organ -- 44 ranks, 52 stops. The recording was published by McLaughlin & Reilly. Dr. Marier also recorded "Incantation pour jour Saint" -- Jean Langlais (c.1958). However, the organ for the recording is the Aeolian-Skinner organ at Church of the Advent (Episcopal), Boston.
My recent favorite: Vierne Mass for two organs.recording at St. Sulpice. Daniel Roth and Eric Lebrun and Choeur D'Oratorio de Paris avec le Choeur Gregorien de Paris.
Sonic heaven and I love Vierne though this mass would be considered way over the top for most places owing to the resources and acoustic needs.
The choir of Westminster Cathedral, London is perhaps the finest. (Not Westminster abbey - they are also very good, but are Anglican).
The recordings of the "Choir of the Carmelite Monastery, London" from the 50s/60s are my favorite. They sing "early" music in a style which is no longer in vogue, but it is amazing stuff.
Although not a liturgical choir, some of the recordings of Pro Cantione Antiqua, especially those with James O'Donnell directing, exhibit some excellent chanting.
Another good one (if it hasn't been mentioned before - too lazy to read back) is the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge under the direction of Dr. Mary Berry (religious name, Mother Thomas More).
I heard that selfsame version with Notre Dame's (the cathedral of Paris, not the college) parish choir and that's probably my favorite recording of it. There is no CD, but you can look it up and you'll hear it being used within Mass. It's very cool.
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