composer
Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585) is still revered as one of the most important English composers of all times. About his early years little is known, even no year of birth ...
related works
Cantiones Sacræ : for 5 voices / Thomas Tallis; transcribed and edited by Cees Wagemakers
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir
Scoring:
GK
Missa Paschalis : for 5 voices / Isaac Heinrich; transcribed and edited by Cees Wagemakers
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir
Scoring:
GK
Vere languores : for mixed choir / Mateo Soto
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir
Scoring:
GK4
Cantico del sole : voor driestemmig vocaal ensemble, 1980-1985 / Klaas Govers
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Vocal Ensemble (2-12); Mixed choir
Scoring:
female voice 2male voices / GK3
composition
Cantiones Sacræ : for 5 voices / Thomas Tallis; transcribed and edited by Cees Wagemakers
Other authors:
Wagemakers, Cees
(editor)
Description:
Queen Elizabeth granted Thomas Tallis and William Byrd a longtime monopoly for polyphonic music and a patent to print and publish music. A very favorable privilege indeed. He and Byrd had the exclusive right to use the paper that was used in music printing. They produced the album Cantiones quæ ab argumento sacræ vocantur in 1575, printed by Thomas Vautor, a composer himself. This collections of their motets did not sell very well and they appealed to Queen Elizabeth for some financial support. Later these motets became very well-loved and many times republished.
It is from this very album that the three underlying motets are taken. These are the only three that are not so well-known, but they deserve to be saved from oblivion. The album contains 34 motets and 3 canons by both composers. Byrd’s compositions are all very wide-spread and therefore not reproduced here, Tallis’ compositions are also widely available, except the three in this small extract.