It is considered by some critics to be the greatest piece of english early music. 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. The rediscovery of the mass by davitt moroney and his researches have confirmed most of the salient details of this story, in particular verifying the account of one thomas wateridge, a law student at the temple. Linda ryan is a comentor for two education for ministry groups, an avid reader, lover of baroque and renaissance music, and semiretired.
I feel like such a luddite or i expect so little from reddit that i misread that as sperm in alium, and was trying to work out the reasoning. He stunned the london musical scene with a performance of his motet ecce beatam lucem, written for the utterly extravagant ensemble of 40 voice parts. This is an excellent recording with good transparency and spacial structuring. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. The motet is experimentally syncretic in structure and style. Spem in alium sheet music download free in pdf or midi. An animated, graphical representation of thomas tallis spem in alium close. Spem in alium, a song by the tallis scholars, peter phillips on spotify. Find classical music concert listings spem in alium by. But even though we know the approximate when of spem in alium, were still unsure as to the why. Notes fortypart motets from the sixteenth century are an exceedingly rare species. Spem in alium was composed during the reign of elizabeth i, probably in 1570. Spem in alium, by thomas tallis, performed by the taverner choir, accompanied by an animated graphical score. Collins described it in 1929 as talliss crowning achievement, along with his lamentations.
In july 1561 cardinal ippolito deste was ceremonially welcomed to florence, probably the occasion for. Gimell thomas tallis spem in alium the tallis scholars. The tallis scholars 1985 recording of spem in alium has outsold even the tenor luciano pavarotti to reach the number one slot. As part of radio 3s 40th anniversary, stephen johnson is joined in the studio by jeffrey skidmore, deborah roberts and antony pitts for an exploration of thomas talliss magnificent 40part motet. Title sing and glorify heavens high majesty composer tallis, thomas. Except for the unplanned visit to london in june 1567 by the mantuan gentleman, diplomat and composer ales. Spem in alium is tallis most astonishing achievement, in a life which continually involved him being inventive and adaptable. Spem in alium tallis scholars peter phillips gimell 158506 lp gimell 1585t06 cass. Johnathackney in london virgin veritas 7243 5 62230 2 8, 2 cds, combined with other latin motets by tallis among them the lamentations of jeremiah the performance. Spem in alium thomas tallis sopranos spem in a spem in spem in and a. 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.
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. Tribute to thomas tallis british composer thomas tallis was born 500 years ago. What tallis does is to use the text and make it into a throughcomposed motet, but a motet of an. 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 11part arrangement of spem in alium is intended for use by anyone who does not happen to have eight 5part choirs to hand, for the enjoyment of singers and to give them an overview of the work. Spem in alium has been listed as a level5 vital article in an unknown topic. In this sound installation, each of the voices of thomas tallis composition, spem in alium have been recorded separately and are played back individually through one of forty speakers. The full vocal score and two chorus parts choirs iiv, and choirs vviii are. Spem in alium thomas tallis tallis scholars youtube. 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. With eight choirs of five voices, spem in alium often comes. As the story goes, the idea of a song for forty voices was introduced to the english with the visit.
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. Thomas tallis spem in alium this is the original release of the tallis scholars acclaimed recording of talliss monumental 40part motet. It is written in 40 parts for 40 members of a choir. Spem in alium nunquam habui choral public domain library. The renowned spem in alium is a perfect example of the former technique, being liturgically a responsory from the historia iudith. The repeating structure of the responsory is entirely ignored, and no reference is made to its chant melody. Tallis festival weekends usually include thomas talliss 40part motet, spem in alium nunquam habui and a largescale choral work often with orchestra, for example. If the video jumps press pause and wait for it to buffer for 30 seconds. Spem in alium is a forty part motet composed by englishman, thomas tallis c. Spem in alium nunquam habui a motet for 40 voices by thomas tallis c. What i like most about it is the clarity that has been achieved by summerly, the oxford camerata, and the recording engineers.
Whatever the truth, spem is alium is one of the treasures of elizabethan english music. Buy tallis spem in alium by the sixteen, orlando gibbons, thomas tallis, thomas tomkins, william byrd, harry christophers from amazons classical music store. Spem in alium nunquam habui motet by tallis britannica. For efficient rehersal, certain files are required. Fifty shades of grey sends sales of thomas talliss spem. This rich and unique sonic world was met with great enthusiasm in london, as it had been in other european courts. It is the title given to a piece of music composed by thomas tallis in 16th century. Spem in alium winchester cathedral choir, david hill on allmusic 1990. Monteverdi vespers, bach magnificat, tippett a child of our time. Spem in alium score, found at via wikimedia commons. By joining our community you will have access to post topics, upload content and access many other. All the works on this cd are also available on the speciallypriced double album the tallis scholars sing thomas tallis.
Welcome to talk classical a community covering every aspect of classical music. When the full score is sung, only the audience can hear what is going on. In queen elizabeths time yere was a songe sent into england. Tallis, t spem in alium missa salve intemerata oxford. Its a fortypart motet performed by eight choirs of five members each which means that you need 40 frigging people singing 40 totally different lines of music.
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. Wikiproject classical music this article is within the scope of wikiproject classical music, which. We are still unsure as to the exact date of tallis birthno records have yet come to lightbut so complete is his understanding of the prereformation style, he must have been born in time fully to experience. The strictly catholic tallis may have written spem to honour the catholic queen mary, in defiance of the protestant queen elizabeth. Latin for hope in another, the incipit of a medieval sarum rite responsory from the vulgate book of judith, spem in alium is widely considered talliss greatest work. The fact that the founder and director of the womens choir luna from mainz has developed a special interest in the pure sound of a female choir, is proven by his sacred choral work spem in alium for a cappella womens choir ssaa which is well worth listening to. Spem in alium nunquam habui praeter in te deus israel qu read more. The forty part motet a reworking of spem in alium 1575. 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.
Striggios work is great, too, but there is something utterly transcendental about talliss masterpiece. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Spem in alium is probably one of the greatest musical compositions in human history. One of his most celebrated pieces of choral music was spem in alium, a motet he wrote to be sung by eight five. Spem in alium nunquam habui means in no other is my hope. If the choirs are arranged in circular fashion sequentially by number, then the music rotates through the opening points of imitation on spem in alium nunquam habui choirs i to iv and pr. In 1567, the city of london welcomed the visiting italian musician and nobleman alessandro striggio. Spem in alium the tallis scholars on allmusic 1994.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. An animated, graphical representation of thomas tallis. It is scored for 40 individual voices, divided into eight choirs of five voices each. Dancers jessy adrien morgan page anna goulding miles ziebart tara john. Tallis, t spem in alium missa salve intemerata oxford camerata, summerly by thomas tallis. Except for the unplanned visit to london in june 1567 by the mantuan gentleman, diplomat and composer alessandro striggio senior, who came bringing performance.