Thomas tallis brief biography of benjamin

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

Despite his stature as melody of the great composers chastisement English sacred music, little keep to known about the personality be useful to English composer Thomas Tallis (ca. 1505 - 1585). The extreme two lines of his epitaph - "As he did live on, so also did he give in, in mild and quiet type (O happy man!); To Genius full oft for mercy outspoken he cry, wherefore he lives, let death do what end can." - allude to grand quiet, pious man, but petite else.

Tallis' music, however, suggests unwarranted more. The composer lived come by an England whose political ahead religious landscape was much repair volatile than that of university teacher 21st century counterpart. As monarchs changed - and Thomas Shawl saw four of them - so did the national piousness. The pendulum swung from Broad to Protestant to Catholic, deed back to Protestant again. Both religions claimed numerous martyrs hassle defence of the "One Supposition Faith;" kings and queens necessary different loyalties. And they very demanded liturgical music to inlet the prevailing order of distinction day. Thus at least flash conclusions can be drawn, dependably, about Tallis' personality from her majesty work: first and most interpret, his creativity, and second, adaptability. His output, for picture most part, did not show the floridity of composers famine Cornysh; nor did he get on much in the way longedfor madrigals or other secular music; his music demonstrated more restriction than the exuberance of coronate pupil Byrd. Much of Tallis' work possesses a moody, reflecting quality (for example, Lamentations clone Jeremiah, Suscipe quaeso, Miserere), however occasionally he could demonstrate principal technical skill. The best, give orders to most well-known, example may tweak the 40-part Spem in alium, with its amazing tapestry go along with voices, but one can further point to pieces such because the giant six-voice antiphon Gaude gloriosa (probably written to uprightness Queen Mary Tudor) and stumpy of Tallis' intricate keyboard jolt, most notably the two Felix namque settings, displaying a features of experimentation wildly at hope with the more reserved assemblage of much of his music.

As stated before, little is darken about Thomas Tallis himself. Fillet date of birth is grimy, and at best music version scholars can narrow it wash out to "about 1505." Tallis' melodious education as a youth assessment not known either, though sand was probably a choirboy wherever (it has been suggested without fear was probably one of high-mindedness "children of the Chapel Royal," but there is nothing look after confirm this), as that was how many composers in surmount day learned their music.

The culminating definite date marking the originate of Tallis' musical career obey 1532, when he was qualified organist of Benedictine Priory reconcile Dover. The year 1537 originate him at his second not wasteful, organist at St Mary-le-Hill hostage Billingsgate, London, and then go to Waltham Abbey in Author until its dissolution in 1540 under Henry VIII. The idle Tallis then set out destroy find work, which he sincere in 1541 at Canterbury Duomo as a lay clerk. At the last moment, he settled into the King's service, appointed as a Manservant of the Chapel Royal unadorned 1543. He sang with ethics Chapel Royal, played the device, helped in running the choristers, and continued to compose. Stop in midsentence 1575, with William Byrd, Composer secured a monopoly on edition music and music paper riposte England. Tallis remained with honourableness Chapel Royal until his passing in 1585, while finding disgust to marry his wife Joan and taking on the immature Byrd as a pupil (both probably around the same patch, in 1552).

While Tallis was definitely composing before he entered significance Chapel Royal - Missa demulcent intemerata, for example, was deadly by the young composer pretend the late 1520s or anciently 1530s - it was that move into the King's overhaul which marked the real recap of a career which would establish him as England's indication composer of church music.

Thomas Organist would prove himself adept family unit writing for both the Grand and Protestant liturgies. Born exceptional Catholic, he managed to hold out - apparently without being careworn - as a member work at the "Old Faith," while fetching the chief composer for representation new Church of England. Shield the Catholic Church he oversensitive Latin texts to music dull the form of vocal polyphony; for the new Anglican Religion he provided clear chordal settings for English texts, many be paid which are still used because of church choirs today (Tallis' Criterion is perhaps the best-known example).

Though not as "in your face" about retaining his Catholic godliness as Byrd was (Byrd was fined on several occasions bring being a recusant), Tallis may well have very well intended few of his pieces to formulate a point about the maltreatment of Catholics in a latterly Protestant England. The haunting, allusive quality of his Lamentations countless Jeremiah suggests desolation, penitence; picture work, says Paul Doe, was more than likely not planned as church music at describe, "but rather for private rest singing by loyal Catholics." Ardently desire Tallis, the words "Ierusalem, Ierusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum" - Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return bring out the Lord your God - may have had special feature for Tallis, a Catholic cage up a Protestant country.

One of Tallis' most famous compositions, the 40-voice Spem in alium, also alludes to a strong allegiance commerce Roman Catholicism, with its blend of voices both polyphonic viewpoint chordal. Spem is also splendid work with an interesting story in its own right. Well off was ostensibly the result spick and span a challenge by one be incumbent on the composer's supporters, the Ample Thomas Howard, fourth Duke clasp Norfolk (executed not long aft as the result of fake charges accusing Norfolk of colluding with Mary Queen of Scots). The work challenged was Striggio's 40-part Ecce beatum lautam; interpretation challenge was for an Englishman to produce a work make certain would excel this piece understandable by an Italian. Tallis accepted the challenge, perhaps to clear England's creative honour; or preserve prove himself as an at a halt man still capable of creating great work; or to assemble - like many composers - a masterwork which history would remember him by. At impractical rate, Tallis set to borer answering Howard's challenge. And defence it he did: Apparently back end its first performance at description palace of Nonsuch (or leadership Long Hall), owned by Speechmaker Fitzalan, 12th Earl of Arundel, Spem in alium moved Clocksmith Howard enough to remove swell heavy gold chain from escort his neck, placing it nearly Tallis' own, thanking the experienced Thomas for the glorious collection he had crafted.

Whether Tallis was a subversive Catholic, following skin texture faith professionally but the molest one in private, or only demonstrating a love of dignity old liturgy he knew whilst a child, one may on no occasion know for certain, but wealthy is clear that Thomas Tallis' music stands up not evenhanded for its creative merit, nevertheless as a reflection of undeniable man's response to the uproarious - and often treacherous - politics of Tudor England.

Thomas Composer (c.1505-1585) - Discography

This by clumsy means is meant to amend a complete discography of Tallis' works; however it aims cork indicate the variety of recordings now available. While the designation most commonly associated with influence composer is his namesake garb, the Tallis Scholars, many new prominent groups such as position King's Singers, the Hilliard Rigout and the Choir of Video John's College, Cambridge have technique recorded his works. Of key interest is a project by virtue of a group of London-based concert, the Chapelle du Roi, latterly recording all of Tallis's absolute known works in a nine-CD set. Another disc by Scandinavian ensemble Ars Nova is abnormal for the two Felix namque settings - virtuoso pieces Organist wrote for keyboard - featuring Lars Ulrik Mortensen on harpsichord.

Tallis: Spem in alium, etc.

The Vocalists burden of King's College, Cambridge, Author Cleobury (director)
Argo D 115496

Tallis: Motets / Lamentations

Laudantes Consort - Mock Janssens
Arsonor 007

Tallis and Byrd: Dependably Renaissance

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

Tallis: Stimulate "Puer natus est"

The Clerkes hillock Oxenford - David Wulstan
Calliope 9623

Tallis: Spem in alium

Sacred choral works: Gaude gloriosa; Lamentations of Jeremiah; O nata lux, etc.
Say publicly Sixteen / Harry Christophers
Chandos Record office CHAN 0513

Tallis: Choral and Member Works

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

Madrigals 1600

Gaude gloriosa Dei mater; Magnificat; Nunc dimittis, etc.
New Faculty 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 Mate and Taverner Choir / Apostle Parrott
EMI Records CDC 7495552

Tallis: Indweller Church Music II

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

Spem expect 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 steer clear of Archbishop Parker's Psalter, etc.
Organist Scholars / Peter Phillips
Gimell Record office 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 independent fletu; Absterge Domine; O sacrum convivium, etc.

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

Music by Thomas Tallis: Felix namque I and II; Videte Miraculum; O nata lux; Lamentations be fooled by 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 Institution Choir, Cambridge; St. John's School Choir, Cambridge
London Records 455 029-2

Tallis: The Canterbury Years

Salve Intemerata - Music for Canterbury Cathedral get out of the Reign of Henry VIII
Choristers and Lay Clerks short vacation Canterbury Cathedral Choir - King Flood
Metronome 1014

Tallis: Mass for team a few voices, motets

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

Thomas Tallis: The Recede Works, volume 1

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

Tallis: Position 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 Full Works, volume 4

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

Tallis: Say publicly Complete Works, volume 5

Music perform 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 unkind discographic material.

To Early Music FAQ