Tallis, T :: Motet in 40 Parts

Motet in 40 Parts

Tallis, T

This is an arrangement of the famous motet by Thomas Tallis: Spem in aliumnunqua, habui praeter in te Deus Israel (I have never put my hope in any other but in you, God of Israel).

Tallis spent part of his life as organist in Canterbury Cathedral. His music is thought to be on a par with the finest of European composers, but in the case of this astonishing work, he fat outstripped them', this being one of the great polyphonic masterpieces of the period.

The Motet is in eight choirs of five parts each, arranged that each choir has seven players: Parts One and Two in each choir have two players each, both doubled at the octave; parts three and four are two separate alto flute parts and the fifth line is a bass flute part. There are separate parts for the organ continuo and contrabass flute part, which may be doubled if an instrument is available.

It is not easy to get 16 alto flutes therefore the third part for Alto Flute in each choir has been transposed and printed as Flute 3. The choirs should be arranged either in separate galleries, or in a semicircle.

Simplified instrumentation: As few as 32 C flutes and 8 alto flutes; as many on individual lines as 8 piccolos, 32 flutes, 16 alto flutes, 8 bass flutes, and basso continuo.