Collins described it in 1929 as talliss crowning achievement, along with his lamentations. The points where these tectonic plates of sound grind against each other come into much sharper relief in this closeup studio setting, and the palette of dissonances that tallis must have heard in. Spem in alium thomas tallis tallis scholars bathtub. This motet ranks with the greatest musical compositions. This piece, spem in alium numquam habui i have no faith in any other than god, is tallis most famous piece. It is considered by some critics to be the greatest piece of english early music.
Spem in alium latin for hope in any other is a fortypart renaissance motet by thomas tallis, composed circa 1570 for eight choirs of five voices each. Thomas tallis 40voice motet spem in alium scored for eight fivepart choirs was composed some 400 years before the modern age of recordings, and perhaps its a work thats best left for the experience of live performance. All the works on this cd are also available on the speciallypriced double album the tallis scholars sing thomas tallis. Thomas tallis edited by philip brett spem in alium. Thomas tallis spem in alium this is the original release of the tallis scholars acclaimed recording of talliss monumental 40part motet. Spem is a bit different a motet, unless i am mistaken. By the way, fantasia on a theme by thomas tallis is easily one of the most beautiful compositions of all time. Collins described it in 1929 as tallis s crowning achievement, along with his lamentations. Spem in alium numquam habui praeter in te deus israel qui irasceris et propitius eris et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis domine deus creator coeli et terrae respice.
Choir midi learning files for works by thomas tallis. Spem in alium latin for hope in any other is a 40part renaissance motet by thomas tallis, composed in c. Spem in alium is surely not just the greatest of all thomas talliss musical achievements, but one of the great musical compositions of all time. This will forever be a deep rooted special cd for me as we played this recording of spem in alium at my fathers funeral last year. The tallis motet is not the source for palestrinas missa spem in alium.
Janet cardiff the forty part motet a reworking of spem in alium, by thomas tallis 1556 2001 not on view when cardiff first heard a recording of thomas talliss ambitious sixteenthcentury choral composition spem in alium nunquam habui in no other is my hope in 1998, she envisioned the possibility of hearing each voice in isolation. I have never put my hope in any other but in you, o god of israel who can show both anger and graciousness, and continue reading spem in alium thomas tallis tallis scholars. Spem in alium the tallis scholars sing thomas tallis with. The quality of the sound is in inverse proportion to the square of the number of voices on a part, even when the. What i like most about it is the clarity that has been achieved by summerly, the oxford camerata, and the recording engineers. Lyrics spem in alium nunquam habui praeter in te, deus israel qui irasceris et propitius eris et omnia peccata hominum. Spem in alium sheet music download free in pdf or midi. It is a 10minute panorama of shifting tone colours. Thomas tallis, peter phillips, the tallis scholars tallis. Spem in alium the tallis scholars sing thomas tallis with 3 bonus tracks, an album by the tallis scholars, peter phillips on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Hope in any other have i none or in no other is my hope motet short musical setting of a sacred text by english composer thomas tallis, noted for its complex use of counterpoint in a composition for 40 voices.
Spem in alium the tallis scholars on allmusic 1994. Sometimes, when im feeling really down, i listen to tallis spem in alium, and it improves my life 100%. Spem in alium this piece, spem in alium numquam habui i have no faith in any other than god, is tallis most famous piece. The famous spem in alium, of course, requires many more voices, but even the last of the contrafacta on cd 8 uses a choir three times as big as the core ensemble.
I have a number of recordings of thomas tallis spem in alium, but this is easily my favorite, standing above the tallis scholars and pro cantione antiqua. The full vocal score and two chorus parts choirs iiv, and choirs vviii are. Spem in alium nunquam habui praeter in te, deus israel qui irasceris et propitius eris et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis domine deus creator caeli et terrae respice humilitatem nostram. Clearly spem in alium is an occasional piece, presumably written for a great state occasion, and perhaps the most likely was the fortieth birthday of queen elizabeth in 1573. Spem in aliumthis piece, spem in alium numquam habui i have no faith in any other than god, is tallis most famous piece. Tallis flourished as a church musician during the often stormy sixteenth century in england. Spem in alium nunquam habui praeter in te deus israel qui irasceris et propitius eris et o. May 09, 2020 born in bologna, italy, andrea angelini studied piano and choral music at the conservatoires of rimini and ferrara, where he got a master. Spem in alium thomas tallis tallis scholars youtube. Tallis composed the choral motet spem in alium around 1570. Motets an outstanding performance of thomas talliss spem in alium provides a powerful cornerstone for a superbly conceived and executed programme view record and. Motive and spatialization in thomas tallis spem in alium kevin. This paper is an analysis of thomas tallis 40voice motet spem in alium.
Spem in alium is a forty part motet composed by englishman, thomas tallis c. Thomas tallis c 1505 23 november 1585 was an english composer. Motets an outstanding performance of thomas talliss spem in alium provides a powerful cornerstone for a superbly conceived and executed programme view record and artist details. Henrique viii, eduardo vi, maria catolica e elisabette protestante. And perhaps you can guess what my new rule of vocabilty will be. What links here related changes special pages printable.
He occupies a primary place in anthologies of english church music, and is considered among the best of its earliest composers. Like, my house could be on fire, and id be all, these harmonies are transcendent. Talliss masterpiece spem in alium, literally sing and glorify, is for eight choirs of five voices 40 separate parts in all. Lyrics for spem in alium, motet for 40 voices by thomas tallis. Spem in alium nunquam habui praeter in te, deus israel qui irasceris et propitius eris et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis domine deus creator caeli et terrae respice humilitatem. I love a lot of these choral works, but in addition to spem, the other work that has stood out to me is misereri from allegri.
Spem in alium thomas tallis, philip brett oxford university press. Gimell thomas tallis spem in alium the tallis scholars. You may remember thomas tallis as the wispy queer composer dude from the tudors. I have listened to a broad range of renaissance choral music, mostly delving into the various masses. Thomas tallis, spem in allium motet for forty voiceshuelgas ensemble. It was commissioned by catholic patron thomas howard, 4th duke of norfolk. Thomas tallis, born in 1505, was one of the outstanding liturgical composers of his day, being the acknowledged master of the composers of england from the. It is a 40part motet, set up for eight fivepart choirs. He is considered one of englands greatest composers, and.
Spem in alium nunquam habui choral public domain library. This particular performance is quite possibly the best ever recorded. The epic 40 part motet by renowned tudor composer, thomas tallis, rewritten for two five part choirs and mezzosoprano, so almost any choir can now perform this legendary piece. Spem in alium sounds completely different here from the usual effect it makes with 40 singers, or some multiple of 40, holding forth in a cathedral. Tallis was no spring chicken, either, when he set about finding the choral holy grail. Thomas tallis, peter phillips, tallis scholars thomas tallis. Spem in alium, an album by thomas tallis, choir of kings college, cambridge, cambridge university musical society chorus, john langdon, andrew davis, sir david willcocks on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Andrea angelini choral conductor, composer, music journalist. To the internet archive community, time is running out. Tribute to thomas tallis british composer thomas tallis was born 500 years ago. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Mar 09, 20 spem in alium nunquam habui praeter in te, deus israel qui irasceris et propitius eris et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis domine deus creator caeli et terrae respice humilitatem. Although its hard to pin down thomas tallis appears to have been an international man of mystery, with no records of him at all before he was an adult it would appear he was not far off seventy when he set the words of the matins response i have. An animated, graphical representation of thomas tallis spem.
The sacred text has been used as a basis for other choral settings, such as a 4part setting by colebault. The number of voices makes for interesting effects. Ive sifted through just about all of them and this one takes the cake. Fifty shades of grey sends sales of thomas talliss spem in. Thomas tallis spem in alium, motet for 40 voices lyrics. Tallis was well practised in the elizabethan art of diplomacy, and to a cultured and musicloving queen a perfectly crafted 40 part motet would have been a most acceptable. It does the divine piece of music true justice with pure sound and wonderful vocal expertise one expects from the tallis scholars. Born in bologna, italy, andrea angelini studied piano and choral music at the conservatoires of rimini and ferrara, where he got a master. One of his most celebrated pieces of choral music was spem.
In manus tuas is, like spem in alium, a setting of a responsory text this time from compline but in motet form, and it is one of talliss most simple and straightforward latintexted works. Spem in alium is a 40part renaissance motet by thomas tallis, composed in c. The famous o nata lux, which is in fact a setting of the first two verses of a sevenverse hymn for the feast of the transfiguration, makes use of what. Tallis blended the chordal with the polyphonic here, to great effect. Jul 16, 2012 it may not quite be what thomas tallis, the 16thcentury court composer, had in mind when he composed his extraordinary devotional choral work, spem in alium.
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