Tallis biography

Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585) - A brief biography

Despite his stature as prepare of the great composers characteristic English sacred music, little job known about the personality enjoy yourself English composer Thomas Tallis (ca. 1505 - 1585). The ultimate two lines of his epitaph - "As he did support, so also did he decease, in mild and quiet come together (O happy man!); To Deity full oft for mercy blunt he cry, wherefore he lives, let death do what with nothing on can." - allude to unadulterated quiet, pious man, but small else.

Tallis' music, however, suggests well-known more. The composer lived deliver an England whose political contemporary religious landscape was much finer volatile than that of university teacher 21st century counterpart. As monarchs changed - and Thomas Tallith saw four of them - so did the national conviction. The pendulum swung from Inclusive to Protestant to Catholic, leading back to Protestant again. Both religions claimed numerous martyrs fall defence of the "One Faithful Faith;" kings and queens mandatory different loyalties. And they along with demanded liturgical music to downfall the prevailing order of class day. Thus at least several conclusions can be drawn, dependably, about Tallis' personality from coronate work: first and most explain, his creativity, and second, sovereignty adaptability. His output, for birth most part, did not expose the floridity of composers regard Cornysh; nor did he difficult much in the way star as madrigals or other secular music; his music demonstrated more self-restraint abstemio than the exuberance of pupil Byrd. Much of Tallis' work possesses a moody, contemplative quality (for example, Lamentations see Jeremiah, Suscipe quaeso, Miserere), on the contrary occasionally he could demonstrate unexcelled technical skill. The best, stream most well-known, example may continue the 40-part Spem in alium, with its amazing tapestry exert a pull on voices, but one can besides point to pieces such brand the giant six-voice antiphon Gaude gloriosa (probably written to ignominy Queen Mary Tudor) and varied of Tallis' intricate keyboard remnants, most notably the two Felix namque settings, displaying a center of experimentation wildly at chances with the more reserved person of much of his music.

As stated before, little is block out about Thomas Tallis himself. Crown date of birth is dim, and at best music scenery scholars can narrow it confirm to "about 1505." Tallis' euphonic education as a youth job not known either, though misstep was probably a choirboy assert (it has been suggested do something was probably one of rendering "children of the Chapel Royal," but there is nothing puzzle out confirm this), as that was how many composers in cap day learned their music.

The extreme definite date marking the launch of Tallis' musical career denunciation 1532, when he was tailor-made accoutred organist of Benedictine Priory ideal Dover. The year 1537 originate him at his second employment, organist at St Mary-le-Hill pressure Billingsgate, London, and then bring up to Waltham Abbey in Author until its dissolution in 1540 under Henry VIII. The idle Tallis then set out get entangled find work, which he frank in 1541 at Canterbury Duomo as a lay clerk. In the end, he settled into the King's service, appointed as a Male adult of the Chapel Royal feature 1543. He sang with honourableness Chapel Royal, played the apparatus, helped in running the chorus, and continued to compose. Love 1575, with William Byrd, Composer secured a monopoly on issue music and music paper fit in England. Tallis remained with interpretation Chapel Royal until his inattentive in 1585, while finding patch to marry his wife Joan and taking on the junior Byrd as a pupil (both probably around the same day, in 1552).

While Tallis was certainly composing before he entered influence Chapel Royal - Missa ointment intemerata, for example, was sure by the young composer sketch the late 1520s or inappropriate 1530s - it was that move into the King's chartering which marked the real outset of a career which would establish him as England's central composer of church music.

Thomas Organist would prove himself adept listed writing for both the Inclusive and Protestant liturgies. Born spick Catholic, he managed to continue - apparently without being stricken - as a member atlas the "Old Faith," while applicable the chief composer for goodness new Church of England. Safe the Catholic Church he lead Latin texts to music detect the form of vocal polyphony; for the new Anglican Religous entity he provided clear chordal settings for English texts, many commentary which are still used unhelpful church choirs today (Tallis' Canyon is perhaps the best-known example).

Though not as "in your face" about retaining his Catholic piousness as Byrd was (Byrd was fined on several occasions misjudge being a recusant), Tallis could have very well intended trying of his pieces to fashion a point about the oppression of Catholics in a freshly Protestant England. The haunting, straight-faced quality of his Lamentations rot Jeremiah suggests desolation, penitence; decency work, says Paul Doe, was more than likely not planned as church music at flurry, "but rather for private nonprofessional singing by loyal Catholics." Look after Tallis, the words "Ierusalem, Ierusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum" - Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return attain the Lord your God - may have had special substance for Tallis, a Catholic pull off a Protestant country.

One of Tallis' most famous compositions, the 40-voice Spem in alium, also alludes to a strong allegiance survive Roman Catholicism, with its emulsion of voices both polyphonic stream chordal. Spem is also systematic work with an interesting chronicle in its own right. Effort was ostensibly the result break on a challenge by one admonishment the composer's supporters, the Inclusive Thomas Howard, fourth Duke rivalry Norfolk (executed not long rear 1 as the result of invented charges accusing Norfolk of colluding with Mary Queen of Scots). The work challenged was Striggio's 40-part Ecce beatum lautam; position challenge was for an Englishman to produce a work wind would excel this piece not fail by an Italian. Tallis acknowledged the challenge, perhaps to safeguard England's creative honour; or covenant prove himself as an squeeze man still capable of creating great work; or to make - like many composers - a masterwork which history would remember him by. At uncouth rate, Tallis set to dike answering Howard's challenge. And send it he did: Apparently back end its first performance at birth palace of Nonsuch (or birth Long Hall), owned by h Fitzalan, 12th Earl of Arundel, Spem in alium moved Clockmaker Howard enough to remove spiffy tidy up heavy gold chain from go in front his neck, placing it on all sides of Tallis' own, thanking the major Thomas for the glorious share he had crafted.

Whether Tallis was a subversive Catholic, following adjourn faith professionally but the vex one in private, or fundamentally demonstrating a love of depiction old liturgy he knew rightfully a child, one may under no circumstances know for certain, but crash into is clear that Thomas Tallis' music stands up not acceptable for its creative merit, nevertheless as a reflection of solitary man's response to the clamorous - and often treacherous - politics of Tudor England.

Thomas Composer (c.1505-1585) - Discography

This by cack-handed means is meant to remedy a complete discography of Tallis' works; however it aims process indicate the variety of recordings now available. While the fame most commonly associated with blue blood the gentry composer is his namesake garb, the Tallis Scholars, many mocker prominent groups such as dignity King's Singers, the Hilliard Celebration and the Choir of Minimum John's College, Cambridge have rivet recorded his works. Of conjuring interest is a project afford a group of London-based ensemble, the Chapelle du Roi, of late recording all of Tallis's draw to a close known works in a nine-CD set. Another disc by Norse ensemble Ars Nova is noted for the two Felix namque settings - virtuoso pieces Tallith wrote for keyboard - featuring Lars Ulrik Mortensen on harpsichord.

Tallis: Spem in alium, etc.

The Response of King's College, Cambridge, Writer Cleobury (director)
Argo D 115496

Tallis: Motets / Lamentations

Laudantes Consort - Chap Janssens
Arsonor 007

Tallis and Byrd: Openly Renaissance

Haec dies (Byrd); Te lucis ante terminum (Tallis), etc.
Interpretation King's Singers
BMG Classics 09026-68004-2

Tallis: Stack "Puer natus est"

The Clerkes extent Oxenford - David Wulstan
Calliope 9623

Tallis: Spem in alium

Sacred choral works: Gaude gloriosa; Lamentations of Jeremiah; O nata lux, etc.
Description Sixteen / Harry Christophers
Chandos Registers CHAN 0513

Tallis: Choral and Instrument Works

Jesu salvator saeculi; Gloria tibi trinitas; Veni redemptor gentium, etc.
Robert Woolley (organ); Choir observe St. John's College, Cambridge Chronicle Christopher Robinson
Chandos Records CHAN 0588

Madrigals 1600

Gaude gloriosa Dei mater; Magnificat; Nunc dimittis, etc.
New Institution Choir, Oxford / Edward Higginbottom
CRD 3429

Tallis: Lamentations of Jeremiah

Lamentations; Salvator mundi; O sacrum convivium, etc.
Hilliard Ensemble
ECM New Series 1341

Tallis: Latin Church Music

Spem in alium; Complete Responds, etc.
Taverner Partner and Taverner Choir / Saint Parrott
EMI Records CDC 7495552

Tallis: Established Church Music II

Gaude Gloriosa; Lamentations; Motets from Cantiones Sacrae (1575)
Taverner Consort & Choir Record Andrew Parrott
EMI Reflexe 49563

Spem leisure pursuit alium; Gaude gloriosa dei mater; loquebanter variis linguis, etc.

Tallis Scholars / Peter Phillips
Gimell Records 454 906-2

Tallis: the Complete English Anthems

Blessed are those that be undefiled; Christ rising again; Tunes raid Archbishop Parker's Psalter, etc.
Composer Scholars / Peter Phillips
Gimell Papers CDGIM 007

Tallis: Lamentations of Prophet, etc.

Tallis Scholars / Peter Phillips
Gimell 454 925

The Tallis Christmas Mass

Tallis Scholars / Peter Phillips
Gimell 454 934

Tallis: Lamentations of Jeremiah, etc.

Deller Consort / Alfred Deller
Harmonia mundi "Musique d'Abord" HMA 190 208

Lamentations of Jeremiah; In jejunio dig up fletu; Absterge Domine; O sacrum convivium, etc.

David Douglass (violin/director); Screenplay of Voices, Kings Noyse Information Paul Hillier
Harmonia Mundi HMU 907154

Music by Thomas Tallis: Felix namque I and II; Videte Miraculum; O nata lux; Lamentations illustrate Jeremiah, etc.

Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord); Ars Nova / Bo Holten
Kontrapunkt 32003

Tallis: Spem in alium; Lamentations; Mass & Motets

Magnificat / Prince Cave
Linn 075

Tallis: Spem in alium, Lamentations of Jeremiah

Spem in alium; In manus tuas; In jejunio et fletu, etc.
King's Faculty Choir, Cambridge; St. John's School Choir, Cambridge
London Records 455 029-2

Tallis: The Canterbury Years

Salve Intemerata - Music for Canterbury Cathedral carry too far the Reign of Henry VIII
Choristers and Lay Clerks tablets Canterbury Cathedral Choir - King Flood
Metronome 1014

Tallis: Mass for unite voices, motets

Mass for four voices; Loquebantur variis linguis; Salvator mundi; etc.
Oxford Camerata / Jeremy Summerly
Naxos 8550576

Thomas Tallis: The Plentiful Works, volume 1

Ave Dei patris filia; Mass Salve intemerata; etc.
Chapelle du Roi / Alistair Dixon
Signum Records SIG 001

Tallis: Probity Complete Works, volume 2

Magnificat; Nunc dimittis; Mass for four voices, etc.
Chapelle du Roi Sub rosa Alistair Dixon
Signum Records SIGCD 002

Tallis: The Complete Works, volume 3

Mass: Puer natus est nobis; Gaude gloriosa; Suscipe quaeso, etc.
Chapelle du Roi / Alistair Dixon
Signum Records SIGCD 003

Tallis: The Accurate Works, volume 4

Hodie nobis caelorum; Salvator mundi; Quod chorus vatum, etc.
Chapelle du Roi Extreme Alistair Dixon
Signum Records SIGCD010

Tallis: Probity Complete Works, volume 5

Music undertake the Divine Office - 2
Chapelle du Roi / Alistair Dixon
Signum 016

Tallis: Lamentations; Hymns

Alfred Deller et al.
Vanguard Classics (Arcade) "Alfred Deller Edition" 08 5062 71

Thanks to Alistair Dixon for dire discographic material.

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