Customer Reviews

The Tallis Scholars Sing Thomas Tallis

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In the last couple of years, the Tallis Scholars have been compiling their sizeable recording output into attractive two-disc editions. Here, they've collected a large number of their interpretations of their namesake, Thomas Tallis. Tallis (c. 1505-1585) is, of course, one of the giants of Renaissance music, and he was certainly the greatest English composer of liturgical music between John Dunstable and William Byrd. I personally consider him the second-greatest Renaissance composer after Palestrina, but I'm not dogmatic about it. I love the music of Josquin, Victoria, and Byrd almost as much. Let's just say that, if you're interested in immersing yourself in the work of a single Renaissance composer, you can't do much better than Tallis.

These recordings were made 1985-1998, and they all sound great. Included in this collection are most of Tallis best and best-known works: the two Lamentations of Jeremiah, O Sacrum Convivium, Gaude Gloriosa, Tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter (which contains the theme that inspired Ralph Vaughan Williams' famous Fantasia), and the incredible 40-part motet Spem In Alium (which is one of the supreme masterpieces of the 16th century). Unfortunately, there are some notable absences, such as the Tallis Scholars' own recording of O Nata Lux. The Mass for 4 Voices, certainly one of Tallis' major works, is also nowhere to be found. Of course, there's only so much music that will fit onto two CDs, but it's still a shame that they couldn't fit at least one of Tallis' masses. Nevertheless, the music that's here is beautiful and powerful.

The Tallis Scholars themselves need no introduction. They're one of the most famous groups specializing in Renaissance music. It needs to be said, however, that if you're looking for "authentic" recordings (that is, recordings that approximate what the music originally sounded like in the 16th century), you might want to look elsewhere. The Tallis Scholars use female singers instead of boys or (ahem!) castrati (though it's doubtful that Tallis would have used or written for castrati himself). And one could complain that these recordings use too many singers for some of the smaller pieces or that the sopranos overpower some of the larger ones (like Spem In Alium). I'm neither an enthusiast nor an opponent of the authentic-performance movement; since we're listening to recorded music anyway, these issues strike me as moot. The Tallis Scholars are experienced and accomplished singers, and they achieve their primary goal: to provide superlative-sounding recordings of important early choral compositions. If you're looking for a fine compilation of Tallis' music or an excellent introduction to Renaissance music, this is it.

If you favor blend, balance, pitch, and all the other parameters of the English traditional choral style, you'll be very impressed with the Tallis Scholars' refined presentation. the music speaks for itself.

I have found "You can't go wrong with The Tallis Scholars" to be a pretty reliable guide over the last 30 years. This double CD is a re-issue of the best of their 3 discs of Tallis's music from the 1980s, and bears that out fully.

This is my favourite version of the great 40-part motet Spem in alium - and that's against some pretty stiff competition, too. Similarly, Gaude gloriosa is magnificently sung, and the smaller-scale works are exquisite. I intend, quite seriously, to have this version of Miserere nostri played at my funeral - it is indescribably beautiful and moving. There are also lovely versions of many of Tallis's English Anthems, including the tune from Archbishop Parker's Psalter upon which Vaughan Williams based his famous Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, plus a beautifully sung Lamentations.

This is a gem of a double CD and is very warmly recommended as a marvellous collection of some of the finest recordings of Tallis available, and at a bargain price. You really can't go wrong.

When things are broken, art tends to respond in kind.

It doesn't have to be that way.

There is no law that says we cannot look beyond the temporal to the eternal.

It is nowhere writ that we cannot come together, in exquisite harmony, to celebrate what we perceive as an orderly and beautiful universe.

Thomas Tallis (1505 - 1585) wrote glorious music under the watchful eye of four English monarchs, some Catholic, some not.

His hand never wavered. He composed choral music in English, Latin, French and Italian --- whatever served the preference of his royal master.

And what he wrote!

Let's just consider his 10-minute masterpiece, Spem in alium. Legend has it that he wrote it in response to a challenge from Thomas Howard, fourth Duke of Norfolk. The challenge: Could an Englishman write a better piece than Striggio's 40-part Ecce beatum lautam? Tallis was then 65, not an age when composers are thought to be at the height of their powers. But he produced a work for eight choirs of five voices each.

I repeat: eight choirs of five voices each.

After the first performance, Thomas Howard took a gold chain from around his neck and gave it to Tallis.

Here's Peter Phillips, creator and conductor of the Tallis Scholars, on this remarkable piece: "So outstanding is 'Spem in alium' that it still seems impossible that one mind without a computer could have managed it. To write for forty voices which do not repeat themselves in consecutive motion and not to lose control of the whole colossal edifice is to set a challenge which even the Art of Fugue scarcely rivals... Spem remains the ultimate technical challenge: supremely difficult to bring off, supremely rewarding when one comes near."

Other pieces are just as complex. For Phillips --- who founded the Tallis Scholars in 1978 and then mortgaged his house so he could start a record company --- complexity is not the greatest challenge. No group tours more, no group releases more CDs. And no group is less rigid. Instead of castrati, Phillips goes modern and uses women. As for "authenticity," it's not a priority: "We have no idea what a Renaissance choir sounded like. I'm sure they didn't sound anything like us."

Longtime readers know I swoon over this group's recording of the Allegri Miserere. And there is no more beautiful bargain than its Christmas album.

But this...this is pretty much the pinnacle. A bargain, to be sure: two hours and forty minutes of music for $20. And worth much more --- in a time when the ground is especially unstable and discord surrounds us, this stuff is, simply, gold.

You've heard the phrase, "Music to my ears." This must be the music that was referenced the first time the phrase was spoken. It is really incredible. For example, the first track on Disc 1 is a 40 part motet...yes, 40! This item is a 2 disc boxed set, and will keep your ears occupied for hours. It would make a great gift for a classical/church music lover in your life. I showed the new set to a coworker, who snatched it from my hands, promising that he'd return it....someday. LOL Sure enough, he returned the next day (a Friday, of course) without them. He "forgot" them at home, and said he'd bring them back on Monday. He was quite taken aback by the breathtaking beauty of this music.

For anyone not familiar with The Tallis Scholars, they are a highly respected group of singers of Thomas Tallis and perhaps other period music. I'm no expert on them, and bought this on the recommendation of a very educated friend. Many of these pieces are sung by an all male choir, including boys for the upper parts. Other pieces seem to be sung by a mixed gender choir; however, even then there may be boys singing the upper parts. What clarity in their voices!! Another possible surprise for the uninitiated is that these works are sung completely a cappella (without accompaniment).

The music is simply awesome! It's hard for me to imagine any serious music lover not being thrilled to hear (or receive!) this music. I highly recommend the set and would give 20 stars if I could!

This package makes clear why this group chose to honor this composer by adopting his name. This is a very generous (two well-packed CDs) compilation of uniformly wonderful singing of superb compositions in excellent recordings. Get comfortable and prepare to be carried very pleasantly away. Then consider the similarly generous and excellent TS compilations The Tallis Scholars Sing William Byrd and The Tallis Scholars Sing Josquin.

The Tallis Scholars remind me of my 11 years of choral singing and the special "ear-traing" that comes with it.
What a joy these 2 Cd's are !