In 1582, the headmaster of Turku Cathedral School in Finland compiled and edited a collection of seventy-four songs which throw important light on late-medieval European culture, and whose musical effect is both immediate and memorable. In the majority of cases the songs were of Bohemian, German, French, and English origin and their influence on the history of church music has been enormous. Even though they may not be aware of it, there will be few people with even a limited knowledge of Wester church music who don’t recognise the melodies or the texts of at least a couple of the songs in this collection, especially those which celebrate Christmas, the most familiar here being the lilting Resonet in laudibus, the four-square Personent hodie (best known in the splendid setting by Gustav Holst), and the infectiously joyful In dulci jubilo. The collection was originally intended for use in schools, hence the use in this recording of upper voices only.