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Sunday, October 27. 2013

The Motet in 40 Parts, in New York


The Hudson River from The Cloisters today


Tallis' "40 Part Motet" - officially Spem in alium numquam habui  (c.1556) is a Renaissance motet, not a medieval motet. Thus no real rhythm, but plenty of flow.


Mrs. BD and I had to hustle down to The Cloisters after church to hear their special installation of Tallis' most famous work. One speaker per voice - 40 speakers - and you walk all around and hear each individual voice, or stand in the middle to hear the blend in the acoustically-superb old stone Spanish apse. We did it 2 1/2 times.


It is a popular event. Most people listen to it twice.






Here's the piece, done normally:













Posted by Bird Dog in Music, Our Essays at 17:41 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

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I maintain that the Renaissance "motet" is a completely different form of Gregorian based chant rather than a true motet as was practiced in the Medieval period. The Renaissance form is actually a polyphonic madrigal in which anywhere from 6 to 8 voices work in counter punctual harmony as opposed to the Medieval form that has two (occasionally three) voices that sound a bit chaotic in practice. Also the Renaissance form is more liturgical than the Medieval which is much more pastoral.

Still, it is beautiful when done correctly - call it what you will, it sounds wonderful.
#1 Tom Francis on 2013-10-27 19:51 (Reply)
Wonderful....it would put goose-bumps on a cue ball.
#2 RickinNC on 2013-10-28 08:09 (Reply)
We sing "If Ye Love Me" in our choir at church fairly often; it's wonderful.
#3 Mr. Bingley (Link) on 2013-10-29 21:01 (Reply)

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