Choir of New College, Oxford - Western Wind Mass

'Gloria' from Western Wind Mass, Taverner

The most famous of Taverner's masses, the Western Wind Mass, is unusual for this period of English church music in that the melody on which it is based is a secular tune. The origin of this love song is not certain, but there is evidence that it may have been written or arranged by Taverner himself. There is also reason to believe that it was composed by the musically astute King Henry VIII.

Western wind when will thou blow,
The small rain down can rain?
Christ, if my love were in my arms,
And I in my bed again!
Conforming to the convention of the time, the mass lays in four sections, and is an exquisite set of variations on the tune. No less than 36 statements of the melody appear in all voices except the alto. Perhaps the greatest compliment to a composer is imitation and quotation. Taverner's colleagues Christopher Tye and John Shepperd composed their own Western Wind masses. In the 20th century, Ralph Vaughan Williams gave the first portion of the Gloria from Taverner's work to the medieval angels in his musical mystery play The First Nowell.

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[jrdscrgn]

It was not unusual for secular songs to be the basis of masses at this time. Palestrina, Dufay, and almost every major composer from this period wrote masses based on secular tunes. The French song "L'homme Armé" was an immensely popular song that provided many many composers with mass settings. Thanks for posting such wonderful music! I love it!

[treblechoir99]

@jrdscrgn Effectively. Quite as Shakespeare who was inspired by heathen(Pagan) anecdotes. I admire your knowledge. ()

[henricamus]

une oeuvre splendide dont l'intensité est proprement miraculeuse

[treblechoir99]

Ah Henri, il a longtemps. Content de ta visite. Et oui une période de l'angleterre magnifique. Dire que si Henri VIII ne s'était pas séparé de Rome, nous n'aurions jamais connu ce style. Enfin je crois.

[JenseninBrizo]

Tres superb!

[loupblanc26]

Magnificent performance of choir New College! Thank you for splendid video