This is... amazing, for being only the six of you. Not only are your voices captivating, but the resonance and acoustics of the [church I'm guessing?] you're singing in are great.
If you haven't already found anything, look for the choral groups Tallis Scholars, Hilliard Ensemble, and Gothic Voices, particularly. The Tallis Scholars have recorded all of Tallis' choral works, and this particular piece is specially featured on their cd, Lamentations of Jeremiah, which has some great motets by Tallis after this masterpiece.
Tallis and Byrd had monopoly on publishing music during the reign of Elizabeth I.
What's astounding is that two catholics held this position and were major composers in the refining of Tudor Motets for the Anglican Church, bringing renaissance counterpoint to an apogee.
Hope you all know Spem in Alium, written in 40 voice parts! (8 5-voice choirs).
Tallis was trained in a 12th century large Abbey Chuch, where there were generous acoustics. Harmonies do not move quickly.
For an example of 'political music', check out Tallis's "If Ye Love Me", written in Edward VI's reign - someone had obviously had a word with Tallis and said "Oi, Tommy - write in English, and make sure we can hear the words!"
Compare that with 'Loquebantur variis linguis" from only a few years before...
Rather difficult yo prove the dates of composition.
Anglican rulers did not forbid English texts in services (just as Vatican II does not forbid the use of latin nowadays).
Whilst it is true that Queen Mary tried to reestablish completely latin texts, her reign was relatively short.
Homophony instead of polyphony, less repetition of words were a process of simplification which for instance, the The Council of Trent imposed on Palestrina.. (See Missa Papae Marcelli).
IIRC, the manuscript of of 'If Ye Love Me' in one of the Oxford libraries (Christ Church iirc) is dateable to 1548, within the first year or so of Edward VI's reign when the "Anglican extremists" took charge. (Puer Natus est Nobis is dateable to to Mary's reign, 1554).
And Trent is a red herring - that was the Catholic Church belatedly scrambling to catch up with all the Protestant reforms that had people in catholic countries saying "Those prots have a point, y'know..."
This "anonymous" interpretation is great and completely unpretentious. The singers know about what thy sing and how to sing it. Great quality of acoustic environnement too! Hear that hearth-rending "plorans ploravit" ...
The music is beautiful, indeed, but the melody betrays the meaning of the Lamentations of Jeremiah. Tenebrae is supposed to be a mournful office, and the "beauty" of this polyphony is very distracting. This is exactly what happens when musicians don't know how to be liturgists.
I cannot agree with this assessment - Tallis obviously does understand the meaning of the text and adds a further layer of meaning through the amazing changes in tonal direction and excellent melodic shapes.
Though seven months ago, I think this discussion was very good, and worthy of continuation. So much was going on during Tallis' time. The seeds of the Reformation brewing, human expressivity becoming more pronounced in music, and so much more. Mghysell is right about tenebrae, and from a catholic perspective, noteworthy. Nevertheless, there is a role that beauty plays in music that both church musicians and secular professionals are trying to understand. Somewhere beauty has a say in truth.
I'm sure by the reverberation betraying the quality, he meant the overload into the camera. This must have been the most stunning live performance. Like bells ringing. amazing
When one considers the historical settings that this piece would have been originally performed in, the reverberation enhances the piece probably making it more like the venues and time of Tallis himself. Remember, this would have been sung in the Chapels Royal and other places associated with the court such as St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
This is... amazing, for being only the six of you. Not only are your voices captivating, but the resonance and acoustics of the [church I'm guessing?] you're singing in are great.
PompeiixKyo 1 year ago
For just 6 singers, they sound like an infinity.
mrmolinodelahoz 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
i recommend the musical Group 'Gregorian' if you like this stuff.
Hispoenari 2 years ago
THIS IS GREAT!
i need an album of like music if anyone can suggest any i'd be vrey gratfeul!
TDK
BRUCEWAYNEDK 2 years ago
Me too. I grew up Protestant but love all the things related to Orthodoxy
andyc48906 2 years ago
If you haven't already found anything, look for the choral groups Tallis Scholars, Hilliard Ensemble, and Gothic Voices, particularly. The Tallis Scholars have recorded all of Tallis' choral works, and this particular piece is specially featured on their cd, Lamentations of Jeremiah, which has some great motets by Tallis after this masterpiece.
gregorcles 2 years ago
@BRUCEWAYNEDK
Look for "the Sixteen".
and anything by Paul McCreesh especially the Venetian music.
mrmolinodelahoz 2 years ago
You can buy a cd from them.Its really great.Ask the person who posted this how to get a copy.
rosenthalenglish 2 years ago
Tallis and Byrd had monopoly on publishing music during the reign of Elizabeth I.
What's astounding is that two catholics held this position and were major composers in the refining of Tudor Motets for the Anglican Church, bringing renaissance counterpoint to an apogee.
Hope you all know Spem in Alium, written in 40 voice parts! (8 5-voice choirs).
Tallis was trained in a 12th century large Abbey Chuch, where there were generous acoustics. Harmonies do not move quickly.
Lovely performance.
1401JSC 2 years ago
For an example of 'political music', check out Tallis's "If Ye Love Me", written in Edward VI's reign - someone had obviously had a word with Tallis and said "Oi, Tommy - write in English, and make sure we can hear the words!"
Compare that with 'Loquebantur variis linguis" from only a few years before...
Timbul53525253 2 years ago
Rather difficult yo prove the dates of composition.
Anglican rulers did not forbid English texts in services (just as Vatican II does not forbid the use of latin nowadays).
Whilst it is true that Queen Mary tried to reestablish completely latin texts, her reign was relatively short.
Homophony instead of polyphony, less repetition of words were a process of simplification which for instance, the The Council of Trent imposed on Palestrina.. (See Missa Papae Marcelli).
1401JSC 2 years ago
IIRC, the manuscript of of 'If Ye Love Me' in one of the Oxford libraries (Christ Church iirc) is dateable to 1548, within the first year or so of Edward VI's reign when the "Anglican extremists" took charge. (Puer Natus est Nobis is dateable to to Mary's reign, 1554).
And Trent is a red herring - that was the Catholic Church belatedly scrambling to catch up with all the Protestant reforms that had people in catholic countries saying "Those prots have a point, y'know..."
Timbul53525253 2 years ago
If we are going to be musicological, I prefer quoting sources.
"If ye love me" in its original C major version for men's voices figures in 'The Wanley Books' (1549-52 according to P. le Huray),
These are part books of about 80 pieces composed bt different composers of the English "experimental years" (from 1547, he says).
They are not in the hand of Tallis, and are to be found in the Bodlian Library in Oxford.
The musical quality of many of the pieces is rather mediocre!
1401JSC 2 years ago
And the significance of the date of 1549-52 is...?
Timbul53525253 2 years ago
Geez! Chills. All over.
zeezazeeba 2 years ago
i cannot believe its only 6 voices. fantastic!
retoricalanswers 2 years ago
one of the best performances of this piece on youtube
epn10 3 years ago
The acoustics were amazing!
You guys really out did yourself.
We sang the Stroope version for All-State.
I loved learning it, but this is superb!
damico8908 3 years ago
Tip top.
xwsftassell 3 years ago
This "anonymous" interpretation is great and completely unpretentious. The singers know about what thy sing and how to sing it. Great quality of acoustic environnement too! Hear that hearth-rending "plorans ploravit" ...
Thanks bogienka!
9867432 3 years ago 2
The music is beautiful, indeed, but the melody betrays the meaning of the Lamentations of Jeremiah. Tenebrae is supposed to be a mournful office, and the "beauty" of this polyphony is very distracting. This is exactly what happens when musicians don't know how to be liturgists.
mghysell 4 years ago
I cannot agree with this assessment - Tallis obviously does understand the meaning of the text and adds a further layer of meaning through the amazing changes in tonal direction and excellent melodic shapes.
hudson3737 3 years ago
Though seven months ago, I think this discussion was very good, and worthy of continuation. So much was going on during Tallis' time. The seeds of the Reformation brewing, human expressivity becoming more pronounced in music, and so much more. Mghysell is right about tenebrae, and from a catholic perspective, noteworthy. Nevertheless, there is a role that beauty plays in music that both church musicians and secular professionals are trying to understand. Somewhere beauty has a say in truth.
nogreaterlove 2 years ago
I'm sure by the reverberation betraying the quality, he meant the overload into the camera. This must have been the most stunning live performance. Like bells ringing. amazing
theevmeister 4 years ago
Again the reverberation betrays the quality of the music.
jewish1972 4 years ago
I agree. Otherwise, very nice.
nunoraimundo89 4 years ago
When one considers the historical settings that this piece would have been originally performed in, the reverberation enhances the piece probably making it more like the venues and time of Tallis himself. Remember, this would have been sung in the Chapels Royal and other places associated with the court such as St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
cvter 4 years ago
yes, but these chapels probably contained hung tapestries, etc. that dampened the sound. also, a chapel is not a cathedral.
epn10 3 years ago
Amazing, how beautiful.
AmandaWolfie 4 years ago
Great. What's the name of the group?
ivantenor 4 years ago
Very nice singing. :-)
OMM06 4 years ago 2
Great! Do you have De Lamentatione on here?
statementz 5 years ago
Beautiful.
tricofilms 5 years ago