THOMAS TALLIS: Spem in Alium - Sing and Glorify CD

The tranquility and solace we find in the music of Thomas Tallis give little idea of the turbulent times in which he lived. He worked as a church musician under four Tudor monarchs and like his pupil William Byrd remained personally loyal to the Catholic faith but was prepared to adapt the style of his music as conditions dictated. Spem in Alium is one of his most ambitious and accomplished works, not intended for liturgical use, but a motet with 40 independent voices and stable passages of choral writing, grouped into eight five-voice choirs, and sung in the round. The ten tracks include Hear the Voice and Prayer, O Lord Give Thy Holy Spirit and Gaude Gloriosa. Performed by La Chappelle du Roi, Alistair Dixon. Playing time nearly 80 minutes on bargain CD.