Music for OT-29-A (Oct 16)

Prelude:           Gloria tibi trinitas: Tallis
Processional Hymn: 398: Diverse in Culture, Nation, Race
Penitential Rite:  -spoken-
Gloria:            113: Glory To God: Andrews
Readings:          662
Intercessions:     -spoken-
Offertory:         (NCAB p 177) If ye love me: Tallis
Acclamations:      103-104-105: Mass of Creation: Haugen
Agnus Dei:         108: Mass of Creation: Haugen
Communion Hymn:    336: On Eagle's Wings
Final Hymn:        321: Now Thank We All Our God
Postlude:          Iste confessor: Tallis

Music Notes:


Thomas Tallis (c1505-1585) born in Kent England, was chorister
(St Paul Cathedral London), organist (Dover Priory 1532-7,
St Mary-at-hill 1537-8, Waltham Abbey 1538-40), lay clerk
(Canterbury Cathedral 1541-2). Due to his musical eminence,
he held a Chapel Royal appointment (1542-85) even though
remaining Catholic (as did his pupil William Byrd) during the
religious turbulence under Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I,
Elizabeth I. The last connived and granted Tallis and Byrd
a joint State monopoly of printing music-paper and music.


Tallis wrote both sacred (Latin and English)(masses, motets,
services) and secular (vocal, keyboard, viol, etc) music,
among which are the earliest datable English plainsong settings;
his best contrapuntal work may be placed almost on a par with
that of Palestrina. His compositional style adjusted to the Royal
leanings: post-Cramner (1533) Anglican Services have little polyphony;
with Mary (1553) again florid; with Elizabeth (1575) homophony,
simplicity. "If ye love me (c1546-8)" sets John 14:15-17 simply.


The prelude and postlude were both written for use in the Divine
Office (Liturgy of the Hours), and are among his few surviving
organ works (most were improvised). Originally, all Hymn and Antiphon
verses were only plainchant; later, alternating (odd) verses were
replaced with choral polyphony or short organ pieces such as these.


The Antiphon "Gloria tibi trinitas" is in a gaunt two-part idiom
(plainchant much disguised in the bass); its text is still used at
Trinity Sunday First Vespers (first psalm).


The Hymn "Iste confessor" begins by intoning the chant, then powerfully
moves forward with chant fragments and other material often in canon;
its text remains the hymn for Feast of Confessors (Common of Holy Men).


Some Tallis is more frequently heard:
"Canon" (from a set of psalm-tunes (1567), now hymn tune #398);
"Theme" (now "Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis (1910)"
by Ralph Vaughan Williams).