Tallis: Spem in Alium [Import]

Thomas [Composer] Tallis (Composer), Peter Phillips (Conductor), The Tallis Scholars (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: The Tallis Scholars
• Conductor: Peter Phillips
• Composer: Thomas [Composer] Tallis
• Audio CD (June 12, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Gimell UK
• ASIN: B00005ATCU
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,468 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb recording of music rarely heard, September 20, 2002

By 

PARTHO ROY "bibliophile" (Tampa, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tallis: Spem in Alium (Audio CD)

Whereas Dominican Friars are carolling all the way to the (charitable) bank with their recently in-vogue CD's of medieval chants juxtaposed against New Age beats, there waits the Tallis Scholars group with a more serious interpretation of this venerable church music. "Spem in alium" is a superb recording of the antiphonal choral music composed by Oxford's musical giant of times past, Thomas Tallis. Featuring a variety of his choral music for ensembles both intimate and grand, these gifted singers exemplify outstanding vocal skill, brilliant acoustic engineering (Merton College chapel, I believe), sensitive and scholarly interpretation, and (most important) historical authenticity--no Enigma beats here. For a true musical experience of this centuries-old style, head straight for the Old Guard and purchase this CD for serious appreciation.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rolling Waves of Voices, July 16, 2001

By 

Andrew Hingston (Saint Helena, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tallis: Spem in Alium (Audio CD)

Spem in Alium was Tallis' Doctoral Thesis, and thus a piece intended to display his complete mastery of techniques in liturgical music. Though outlandish in its conception, it was not particularly innovative or experimental. However, as a forty-part motet, it's form is cerainly rare if not wholly unique. Tallis compositional idiosyncracies aside, this CD is absolutely first-rate. There are other recordings of Spem in Alium (and the other of Tallis' works on this CD) nearly as good -- but none finer. The singing is all beautifully clear and manages to be warmly emotional without being Romantic. The accoustic is superb, full and alive without being cloudy, and, like all Gimell recordings I've heard, the actual recording quality is as near to perfect as can be -- which means you hear everything in the music, but are not particulary aware of the recording as a recording. Whether or not you like early music, or liturgical music, or choral music, or English music, or any combination of them: all you have to do to be impressed and completely delighted with this CD is like music. Any kind of music. No one should be without this -- no matter what the rest of their collection consists of. A great record in every way.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Musical splendour..., June 4, 2004

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Tallis: Spem in Alium (Audio CD)

--Thomas Tallis-
Thomas Tallis, born in 1505, was one of the outstanding liturgical composers of his day, being the acknowledged master of the composers of England from the time of Queen Mary's reign forward. He was a composer and Gentleman of the Chapel Royal during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary, and Elizabeth, and worked closely with many other composers, most particularly William Byrd. He was an organist in addition to composer. He died in 1585, having navigated his way through the tumultuous catholic/protestant difficulties of the church which provided his livelihood and creative outlet.

--Spem in alium--
This piece, Spem in alium numquam habui (I have no faith in any other [than God]), is Tallis' most famous piece. It is a 40-part motet, set up for eight five-part choirs. It is a masterpiece. Tallis blended the chordal with the polyphonic here, to great effect. The number of voices makes for interesting effects, particularly when done in cathedral settings. Several stories have appeared about why this work was composed, but in the end, it remains unknown.

--Other music--
Other pieces included on this disc include Tallis' Sancte Deus, one of his early works, done during the reign of Henry VIII, and two settings of Salvator mundi, salva nos. These are rather smaller pieces, particularly in comparison with Spem in alium. Gaude gloriosa is more in keeping with Spem in alium, in terms of length and phrasing. The Miserere is a seven-part technical masterpiece very close in form to traditional English canonical settings. The final piece, Loquebantur variis linguis, is a seven-voice chant.

--Liner Notes--
Being internationally acclaimed, the Tallis Scholars' CDs typically present their commentary and texts in English, French, German and Italian (together with any Latin texts); that is true of this disc. The cover art also typically represents visual arts contemporary with the compositions - here it is a piece from the Munich collection of Alte Pinakothek by Albrecht Durer in 1500, roughly contemporary with Tallis.

--The Tallis Scholars--
The Tallis Scholars, a favourite group of mine since the first time I heard them decades ago, are a group dedicated to the performance and preservation of the best of this type of music. A choral group of exceptional ability, I have been privileged to see them many times in public, and at almost every performance, their singing seems almost like a spiritual epiphany for me, one that defies explanation in words. Directed by Peter Phillips, the group consists of a small number of male and female singers who have trained themselves well to their task.

Their recordings are of a consistent quality that deserve more than five stars; this particular disc of pieces by Thomas Tallis, the namesake of the group, deserves a place on the shelf of anyone who loves choral music, liturgical music or Gregorian chant, classical music generally, or religious music. It is remarkable, both in composition and performance. The original recording was made in 1985.