Somnia

1. Archer

2. Clouds as Edges [Edit]

3. Diaphanous [Edit]

4. Campestral [Version Two]

5. Furnace

6. Mirages [Version Two]

Tracks:

Haec Dies
Te Lucis Ante Terminum (I)
Beata Viscera Mariae Virginis
Ave Verum Corpus
Vigilate
Viri Galilaei
Te Lucis Ante Terminum (II)
Lamentations Of Jeremiah, First Set: Incipit Lamentatio
Lamentations Of Jeremiah, First Set: Aleph
Lamentations Of Jeremiah, First Set: Beth
Lamentations Of Jeremiah, First Set: Ierusalem
Lamentations Of Jeremiah, Second Set: De Lamentatione
Lamentations Of Jeremiah, Second Set: Gimel
Lamentations Of Jeremiah, Second Set: Daleth
Lamentations Of Jeremiah, Second Set: Heth
Lamentations Of Jeremiah, Second Set: Ierusalem
If Ye Love Me
O Lord, Make Thy Servant Elizabeth, Our Queen
Sing Joyfully
Laudibus In Sanctis

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Outstanding!!!.......2005-02-12

I own several other King's Singer CDs, but this one is definitely my favorite. Every track is a gem! It is amazing that only six vocalists are able to produce such beautiful harmonies. My favorite tracks are:
-"Te Lucis Ante Terminum (I)" This begins with Gregorian chant done in the way that God intended for it to be sung. When I am listening to this, I imagine it being performed in an English cathedral, and I imagine the entire building resonating with the music. After the opening unison Gregorian chant, the music changes into a polyphonic and harmonic style that is a very interesting textural contrast. Wonderful!
-"The Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah" This is a wonderful example of the highest form of English polyphony. I have a CD that has the Choir of King's College performing the "Lamentations", however, the King's Singers' version on this CD is much clearer and richer.

If you like this type of music, then this album is for you. Even if you are not sure if you like this kind of music, I would still recommend purchasing this recording. You won't regret it.

Not to be missed!.......2002-01-22

This CD is absolutely essential. These guys know their music inside and out, and the dynamic levels they are able to achieve should be the envy of any ensemble.

The album contains an exceptional recording of Tallis's "The Lamentations of Jeremiah" which are virtually unperformed in the music world, but are exquisite pieces of vocal polyphony. I highly recommend this album for that reason alone.

Listen to it as an activity in and of itself, with no background noise if possible. You will be rewarded! Also, it is a great album to help you fall asleep, if you use music to relax.

If you like Early music, you MUST acquire this CD! End of story!

Beautiful and Flawless.......2000-12-08

The King's Singers are one of the best small vocal ensembles in the world today. With beautiful, strong, clear voices, they sing new life into some of the loveliest melodies of the two wonderful English composers. Their voices seem perfectly suited to this music, and indeed their performance itself is essentially perfect--I cannot find a single significant fault with anything on this recording. The quality of singing is absolutely first-rate. In particular, the sound of the male contralto is wonderfully pure. If you like Byrd and Tallis, then you are in for a wonderful treat with a purchase of this CD. If you are not very familiar with the composers, or the Singers, then I am sure this CD will make you quite a fan of both! This is very, very lovely music.

The King's Singers Overcome Obsticles of Byrd and Tallis.......2000-06-10

William Byrd. Thomas Tallis. Both were common copmosers in the Renaissance era that were sure to offer up a challenge to anyone who dared. The King's Singers were up there to challenge the music of Byrd and Tallis. What an interesting choice of composers too. Byrd was known to be the most respected composer of his time in England (1543-1623), which may also be the reason he got away with composing music for both the banned Catholic church and the new Angelican church.

I honetly do not know much about Tallis, but I think that "Te Lucias ante Termnium I" shows well defined and blended harmonies while focusing on an excellent bass line. "Haec Dies" sounded like two different SATB choirs copying each other while actually the music is only SSATTB; they made a masterpiece out of a song that only consists of: 'Haec dies, quam fecit Dominus, Exultemus, et laetemur, inea, Alleluia'. The melodies were bouncy and fizzed with intense pop and curiosity to what was coming up, how the style format was going to suprise you next. "Beata Viscera Maria Virgins" demonstrated brilliant sections as well as dramatic dynamics. "Ave Verum Corpus" drifted me into a daze with beautiful melody lines to relax to. "Viqilate" created a sea of harmonies using the basic lyric line while brilliantly intensifying with each word.

Tracks:

Lumen
Bring Us, O Lord God
Ehtoohymni (Evening Hymn)
Nyinye otpushchayeshi (Nunc dimittis)
O Lux beata Trinitas
O coruscans lux stellarum
O nata lux
Te lucis ante terminum
Hymn To The Creator Of Light
Hail, Gladdening Light
Christe, qui lux es et dies
Nunc dimittis
Christe, qui lux es et dies
Nunc dimittis
Svyetye tikhii (Hail, Gladdening Light)
Svyetye tikhii (Hail, Gladdening Light)
Lucis Creator optime
Lux aeterna

Customer Reviews:

A beautiful ensemble tone.......2002-09-07

Most people who are used to the boy-treble sound of Kings College, wince at the thought of women-sopranos as members of the choir for English church music. But this Clare College performance would win over the most die-hard traditionalist. The program is a collection of familar and more interesting works spanning several centuries of the genre. The performances are measured, controlled and have a true ensemble tone. Although it would be unfair to treat this disc as just background music, it can be a wonderful oasis of calm after a busy day.

heavenly.......2002-02-13

I didn't think there was a group out there that could outshine the Cambridge Singers, but this group has done it. (Their shared history with John Rutter could have something to do with it!) "Bring Us, O Lord God" and "Hymn to the Creator of Light" are among the all-time great choral moments. Their sound is a shade warmer than the Cambridge Singers, which is an asset when moving outside Renaissance choral literature. The choir can sing with the pristine purity needed for Palestrina and the warm lushness needed for Rachmaninoff and Rautavaara. Every track on this album is stunning. This is now the first CD I send to people looking to start or augment their choral music collection. I can't recommend it highly enough!

Unbelievably beautiful.......2000-10-29

With this disc, their first recording for John Rutter's Collegium label, the Choir of Clare College in Cambridge prove themselves worthy to stand alongside the best in this country - and then some...

At the outset, I have to admit that I'm not wholly impressed by the programme. The title "Illumina" treads on ground that countless choirs have covered over the last ten years, and the music includes several items that fit in with that title, despite having been 'done to death' on other choral compilations: I have already come across dozens of CDs with "O nata lux" by Thomas Tallis, "Hymn to the Creator of Light" by John Rutter and "Hail, gladdening light" by Charles Wood, for instance, and it is as if having yet another recording of each detracts from the value of the others in my collection. The programme also includes a number of excerpts from Russian masterworks: specifically, canticles from the Vigil settings of Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky and Gretchaninov all appear (indeed, the last two composers are represented by their different settings of the same canticle!). In a similar vein is the inclusion of the Evening Hymn from Rautavaara's "Vigilia," sung in Finnish. Dense and rich polyphonic works of the Renaissance and late Romantic schools nestle side by side (cantus firmus motets by Thomas Tallis and Robert Whyte are paired off with soupy and familiar anthems by William Harris and Gustav Holst); these are contrasted by monodic plainchants and a hymn by Hildegard of Bingen. A Nunc Dimittis by Josquin also makes an appearance (it is the third setting of that particular text on the disc!) before the programme ends with Gyorgi Ligeti's striking and ethereal "Lux Aeterna."

So, a very predictable programme that might not seem worth purchasing, particularly as choral music lovers are bound to have all these tracks on previous releases. However, when it comes to actually listening to the disc, one finds it definitely worth adding to a choral collection. The Choir of Clare College have made recordings in the past, but not one of them is nearly as stunning as this. Timothy Brown draws the most amazing quality of sound from the singers: every note is precise, every word is clear, every texture is sonorous to the right degree, the balance is superb, the dynamic control is exquisite... The choir was obviously having a good year in terms of basses, who negotiate the infernal notes in the Rachmaninov and Rautavaara tracks with incredible power and admirable precision. Similarly, the sopranos and altos (Clare College Choir is mixed rather than all-male as at King's College) have a beautiful tone in the high registers of their voices. Completing the package are the scintillating acoustics of the recording venue: the Lady Chapel at Ely Cathedral. This lends a wonderful glow to all the music, even the Ligeti (I've never heard it sung as well as this).

Tracks:

Spem in alium - T. Tallis
In manus tuas - T. Tallis
In ieiunio et fletu - T. Tallis
Te lucis ante terminum I - T. Tallis
Te lucis ante terminum II - T. Tallis
Ecce tempus idoneum - T. Tallis
Veni Redemptor gentium - T. Tallis
O nata lux de lumine - T. Tallis
Salvator mundi - T. Tallis
Derelinquat impius - T. Tallis
Vidente miraculum - T. Tallis
Lesson - T. Tallis
Sancte Deus - T. Tallis

Tracks:

Lamentatio leremiae I - Thomas Tallis
Lamentatio Ieremiae II - Thomas Tallis
Te Deum - Thomas Tallis
Iam lucis orto sidere - Thomas Tallis
Carifica me, pater - Thomas Tallis
Fantasy - Thomas Tallis
Audivi vocem - Thomas Tallis
Dum transisset sabbatum - Thomas Tallis
Honor, virus et potestas - Thomas Tallis
Loquebantur variis linguis - Thomas Tallis

Customer Reviews:

About Spem in alium.......2006-09-04

This is specifically about Spem in Alium which is featured on this album.

While I am a great fan of classical music, this time period of music has never been one I have sought out. Then I bought this album at a thrift store two years ago and heard Spem in Alium for the first time. This piece and this performance changed my mind about middle age/early rennaisance music. This album has been in heavy rotation ever since on my stereo.

While I found all of Tallis' music on this album to be compelling, Spem in Alium is an exceptionally beautiful, intricate piece that if full of mystery (in the religious sense). The recording itself is wonderfully balanced sonically with excellent dynamics and depth (hugely difficult with the eight five-part choirs used). Listening to this with your eyes closed it is not difficult to feel that you are alone in a great English cathedral surrounded by choirs.

Having not heard the other versions of Spem in alium, I cannot honestly compare it to other performances. However, as an avid classical music listener, I can find nothing to fault here either in the music itself or in the quality of the recording which are both superb.

If like me you have avoided composers before Bach, then this music will be a great discovery. If you already know this piece, I think you will find this an extremely compelling and well recorded performance.

Average customer rating:

Somnia
Greg Davis
Manufacturer: Kranky
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Curling Pond Woods
Paquet Surprise

ASIN: B0002X6G58
Release Date: 2004-11-02

Tracks:

Archer
Clouds as Edges [Edit]
Diaphanous [Edit]
Campestral [Version Two]
Furnace
Mirages [Version Two]

Average customer rating:

divine
Essential Tallis
Wonderful music
Majestic
A wonderful performance but...

Thomas Tallis: Sacred Choral Works

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Tallis Scholars Sing Thomas Tallis
Tallis: Mass for Four Voices; Motets /Oxford Camerata * Summerly
Tallis: Spem in Alium
The Psalms of David from Kings Choir of Kings College, Cambridge, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000000A4H
Release Date: 1992-07-29

Tracks:

Sacred Choral Works: Spem in alium
Sacred Choral Works: Te lucis ante terminum
Sacred Choral Works: O nata lux
Sacred Choral Works: I. Incipit lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae
The Lamentations of Jeremiah: II. De lamentatione Jeremiae prophetae
Sacred Choral Works: O sacrum convivium
Sacred Choral Works: Jesu salvator saeculi
Sacred Choral Works: Salvator mundi, salva nos
Sacred Choral Works: Loquebantur variis linguis
Sacred Choral Works: Gaude gloriosa Dei mater

Amazon.com

Hundreds of years before Phil Spector introduced American rock audiences to his "wall of sound," 16th-century English composer Thomas Tallis wrote his 40-part motet Spem in alium. This was the real thing--no electronic gimmicks, no overdubbing. Imagine the effect of eight five-part choirs in the highly resonant acoustic of a large church, piling up layer upon layer of sonic blocks of harmony; methodically, rhythmically building the sound toward a climactic conclusion more than nine minutes later. While no recording can do full justice to this piece, this one comes close. The rest of the program is filled with music and choral singing that is nothing short of inspired: there is a spare beauty in the short hymn "O nata lux"; a dazzling display of near-perfect ensemble singing in the hymn "Jesu salvator saeculi"; and sheer sensuality and exhilarating power in the six-part Marian antiphon "Gaude gloriosa." --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

divine.......2007-04-28

The rendition of "O Nata Lux" is exquisite. A short piece, flawless in its structure, performed perfectly.

Essential Tallis.......2005-12-07

This is probably the best Tallis anthology on the market, and would be an ideal introduction to this great composer. It includes a number of his most important and beloved works; Gaude gloriosa (which is excellent!!), the Lamentations, Salvator mundi, O sacrum convivium, Loquabantur, etc., and of course, Spem in alium.

This cd contains my favorite versions of both Spem and Gaude gloriosa, and everything else is very good too. If you don't know Tallis, then this is the place to start, and if you already love Tallis, or the Sixteen, then you should get it too.

Wonderful music.......2005-08-06

--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 here include selections from 'The Lamentations of Jeremiah' (Holy Week readings), 'Jesu salvator saeculi', 'Gaude gloriosa Dei Mater', and several other shorter pieces. Many use the well-established pattern of alternating polyphony with plainchant from verse to verse. The 'Gaude gloriosa' uses a six-part choir and high, soaring treble voices - this is very typically English of the period.

--The Sixteen, Harry Christophers--
Alas, the liner notes do not tell much about the choir or choirmaster, Harry Christophers. It does include photographs. The Sixteen have been together since its formation in 1977 by Christophers, educated at Canterbury Cathedral Choir School and Magdalen College, Oxford. They are fast approaching 100 recordings as a group, of which this is a good example.

Majestic.......2004-09-26

This Spem emphasizes balance between its eight choirs. The Tallis Scholars' performance, initially more spectacular thanks to its brighter acoustic and the more virtuosic pre-eminence of the trebles, for me finally loses more of harmonic complexity than it gains in intensity. The accent on the treble part overwhelms the majestic interweaving of harmonies, which this recording displays to awesome effect. To me, the Tallis Scholars' Spem is like a spectacular display of fireworks, while The Sixteen's is ocean waves crashing against cliffs. This reviewer is grateful for both.

A wonderful performance but..........2004-02-09

This cd presents the best and most famous sacred works of Reformation England composer Thomas Tallis, including Spem in Alium, a gorgeous piece for 40 voices, and the poignant Lamentations of the prophet Jeremiah. They are sung by a huge mixed choir, which gives the pieces a tremendous power.The rendition is first-rate and deeply moving.
Unfortunately, the clarity of the recording leaves much to be desired. I have played this cd on several hi-fi players and the result has always been disappointing. The sound is muffled, muddy, it does not come out with full force and clarity.
I recommend the "Best of the Renaissance" by the Tallis Scholars if you want to listen to a crystal-clear Spem in Alium and to "Lamenta" performed by Philip Cave et al for the Lamentations of Jeremiah.

Tallis: Lamentations of Jeremiah in 2; Spem

Average customer rating:

The perfect Tallis record
Sublime
Sublime

Tallis: Lamentations of Jeremiah in 2; Spem

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000002ZN9
Release Date: 1993-11-16

Tracks:

O salutaris hostia
In ieiunio et fletu
Salvator mundi (I)
In manus tuas Domine
Salvator mundi (II)
The Lamentations of Jeremiah (I)
O sacrum convivium
O nata lux de lumine
Te lucis ante terminum
The Lamentations of Jeremiah (II)
Spem in alium

Amazon.com

This recording has a huge advantage over most of its rivals for the attention of Tallis listeners: the wonderful acoustics of Winchester Cathedral. In this magnificent space, the soaring lines and resplendent harmonies of Tallis's greatest masterpieces find sympathetic resonance, resulting in a heightened dramatic presence that takes the music beyond earthly confines. Of course, beyond the exceptional quality of the writing, credit must go to the phenomenal men and boys of Winchester Cathedral Choir. Where, even in England, does one find trebles who sing with more assuredness, musicality, and beauty of tone? With a repertoire including "In ieiunio et fletu," "Salvator mundi," "In manus tuas," "The Lamentations of Jeremiah," "O nata lux," and the unbelievable 40-part motet "Spem in alium," this is the Tallis disc to own if you're buying only one. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

The perfect Tallis record.......2000-04-30

Ultimately, this disc has two things going for it.

Firstly, it is a treasure trove of Tallis' finest Latin choral music, with gems great and small. Short pieces, such as "O Nata Lux" and the even tinier "Te lucis ante terminum," are given an exquisite rendering alongside larger motets (the opening track, "O salutaris hostia," is particularly ravishing). The programme includes both parts of the "Lamentations" for men's voices, which makes for especially good listening, but the best is saved until last: "Spem in alium," one of the most mammoth choral compositions ever written, is breathtakingly surveyed by the Cathedral Choir, the Winchester College Quiristers and the Vocal Arts Chorus.

Secondly, as recordings go, there could not be a much better one than this for demonstrating the excellence achieved by the Winchester Cathedral Choir under David Hill over the past twelve years. Listening to them as they sing this music in the generous acoustics of the ancient cathedral, one cannot help but feel that this is the best way in which to offer this music, when all's said and done. Whilst such forces as The Sixteen and The Cardinall's Musick have done much outstanding work to spread this type of music abroad through their concert performances, it is important to remember that it was all written for worship, not for concerts, and it is only fitting that a cathedral choir should broadcast it in this way.

As an act of worship, this disc is sublime. As a rendering of Tallis' music, it is superior. Worth getting and listening to over and over again.

Sublime.......1998-09-26

I purchased this CD with only a general awareness of Tallis. It is true that the voices and acoustics of this recording are exceptional, working delicately with the music -- never overbearing. When listening to this recording, I often wonder if the religious expression of an earlier age proposed answers that we have lost in the current day.

Sublime.......1998-09-26

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Alfred Deller - Portrait of a Legend

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001L1B7Y
Release Date: 2004-06-08

Thomas Tallis: The Complete Works (Box Set)

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Go To Amazon.com/uk
Wonderful Set, but why pay this much?

Thomas Tallis: The Complete Works (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Signum UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0006OR0DA
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Customer Reviews:

Go To Amazon.com/uk.......2006-02-23

Thank you Paul Schleuse. Your review is right on, and most importantly, I paid $113. (including shipping) from amazon.com/uk to Boston. Less than halk the price here.

Wonderful Set, but why pay this much?.......2005-07-30

This is a landmark set: the complete works of one of the most important composers of the 16th century, in performances of grace and clarity. However, you can get it for less than half of the US price by buying it at Amazon.co.uk. At GBP65.20, it works out to just over $100, or about $10 per disc--quite a bargain on a major addition to any serious early-music collection.