Today we have one of the greatest masterpieces of English choral music. It is impossible to overstate the richness of repertory for choir which came from England in the 15th, 16th and early 17th centuries. There existed a very large group of great composers, all of whom were writing for chorus. And in the second half of the period, the “High Renaissance,” two composers stand above all others: Tallis and Byrd. Today’s motet shows how Tallis composed utterly transcendent works which dwell in another realm. The construction of the piece sounds very simple, but what it evokes is something else. Upon multiple hearings you will notice an ever-changing emotional landscape. Like other supreme composers in history, Tallis could just change a couple of notes and suddenly we are in another world. When the singers and I perform this work, we feel completely detached from time and place. We live in the world Tallis has created and never want to leave. – Dennis Keene, Artistic Director

THOMAS TALLIS In ieiunio et fletu

Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director

from the Delos recording From Chant to Renaissance ℗ 1995 Delos
The singers in this performance are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.