Earthly Solace: Eton Choirbook Reconstructions II – Selene

Following the critically acclaimed debut of Heavenly Light, CRD Records is thrilled to announce the global release of Earthly Solace, the second volume in their landmark series dedicated to the reconstruction of the Eton Choirbook from emerging British group the Selene Consort, directed by Daniel Gilchrist.

Whilst the first volume reached for the celestial (Heavenly Light – released May 2025 (CRD 3555)), Earthly Solace brings the sublime polyphony of the late 15th century back to the soil of human experience. Through the meticulous reconstruction work of Russell Blacker, the album breathes life into works that have remained silent for over 500 years, casualties of time and the Reformation’s upheaval. Five of the nine tracks are world-premiere recordings of reconstructions by Russell Blacker. The album’s title and emotional core are drawn from two rare, complete survivals within the Eton Choirbooks: Banester’s O Maria et Elizabeth and Browne’s Stabat Iuxta Christi Crucem. These works ‘bookend’ the tragic life of Arthur, Prince of Wales—the ill-fated elder brother of Henry VIII—linking the divine office directly to the turbulent dynastic history of the English royal family.

At the heart of the recording is John Sygar’s reconstructed four-part Magnificat. A text of radical hope and social levelling, Sygar’s setting serves as a centerpiece that Gilchrist finds ‘painfully stark’ in its contrast to the modern world, yet vital in its message.