Listening Recommendation: Spem in alium by Thomas Tallis

Hey guys,

I share with you my obsession over Renaissance music,

Today's listening recommendation's Spem in alium by English composer Thomas Tallis (c. 1505 - 23 Nov 1585). It's a four part motet for 8 choirs of 5 voices each, with individual voices leading in, fading out, in call and return or sometimes homophony. The contrasts are audible to the listener and is indeed a work that has persisted in the choral staple since the Renaissance era.

The lyrics are as follows:

Spem in alium numquam habui praeter in te
Deus Israel
qui irasceris
et propitius eris
et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis
Domine Deus
Creator coeli et terrae
respice humilitatem nostram

I have never put my hope in any other but in you,
O God of Israel
who can show both anger
and graciousness,
and who absolves all the sins of suffering man
Lord God,
Creator of Heaven and Earth
be mindful of our lowliness

This version i have below's by the Tallis Scholars, and has a bit of the score in the front so you can see how it moves between parts.



Enjoy! :)