The Tallis Scholars

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The Tallis Scholars
Thomas Tallis.jpg
Thomas Tallis, the English composer after whom the ensemble is named
Background information
Origin United Kingdom
Genres Classical music
Instrument(s)Vocal
Years active1973–present
LabelsGimell Records
Website www.thetallisscholars.co.uk
www.gimell.com

The Tallis Scholars is a British professional early music vocal ensemble established in 1973. Normally consisting of two singers per part, with a core group of ten singers, they specialise in performing a cappella sacred vocal music. The founder and conductor is Peter Phillips. The group has released over 60 discs through its own label, Gimell Records. In 2013 they were elected to the Gramophone Hall of Fame. [1] In 2023, to mark the group's 50th anniversary, Gramophone published a special edition of its magazine, dedicated to The Tallis Scholars. [2]

Contents

History

The group was formed in 1973 by Peter Phillips, who in 1972-1975 was an organ scholar at St John's College, Oxford and studied music with David Wulstan and Denis Arnold. Phillips invited the members of chapel choirs from Oxford and Cambridge to form an amateur Renaissance vocal music ensemble, which turned professional after ten years of concert-giving. From the first performance in the Church of St. Mary Magdalen, Oxford on November 3, 1973, Phillips aimed to produce a distinctive sound, influenced by choirs he admired, in particular the renowned Clerkes of Oxenford, directed by David Wulstan. [3] [4] Since winning a Gramophone Award in 1987, the Tallis Scholars have been recognised as one of the world's leading ensembles in Renaissance polyphony. [5]

Concerts

The Tallis Scholars singers tour widely, performing some 70 concerts a year, in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. In April 1994, they sang Allegri's Miserere mei, Deus in the newly restored Sistine Chapel in Vatican, [6] and performed in February 1994 in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome to commemorate Palestrina's 400th anniversary. [5]

In 1999, they toured China, giving two concerts in Beijing. [7] In 1998, the Tallis Scholars marked the ensemble's 25th anniversary with a performance in London's National Gallery. At the millennium, they performed in New York City with Paul McCartney. [8] During the 2013-2014 40th-anniversary concert series, the group announced a world tour including the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The Tallis Scholars started the tour with a concert in St Paul's Cathedral in London for 2000 people. [9]

Recordings

Since March 1980, the Tallis Scholars have recorded on their own label, Gimell Records, established by Peter Phillips and Steve Smith. [10] The label was named after the compositional technique gymel. In accordance with Phillips,

The word Gimell comes from the Latin word ‘gimellus’, meaning ‘a twin’, and it’s a technical term. It’s a corrupt form of the word gimellus that you find in manuscripts of the Tudor school where the part is twinned. You have to understand that in those days the music wasn’t written in score; it was written in parts so you’d only see your part. If you were singing your part and you saw the word ‘gimell’ it had to be decided in rehearsal that some of you singing that part would have to look elsewhere on the page, or even pick up another book and find your part. So it was a signpost. [11]

Soon, there was a critical consensus that, "the Tallis Scholar's recordings are of reliably high quality". [12] Between 1981 and 2006, the group recorded 40 critically acclaimed discs. [5] The recordings covered a repertoire from over 150 years of music history (approximately the years 1450–1600), with some excursions into later repertoire. In 2010, Gimell released its 50th recording, Victoria's Lamentations of Jeremiah. [13] Other notable releases included Gramophone magazine's Record of the Year Award winning disc of Josquin's Missa Pange lingua and Missa La sol fa re mi . [5] In 2011, the ensemble's recording of Allegri's Miserere mei, Deus in Merton College, Oxford in 1980 was named by BBC Music Magazine as one of the "50 Greatest Recordings of All Time". [14] In 2013, the recording of John Taverner's Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas became the number one in the UK Specialist Classical Chart. [15]

Members

According to Phillips, during the 1982-1983 concert season, the group formed its core that was more or less consistent for the next 25 years. Some singers left the Tallis Scholars to develop their successful solo careers; these included Michael Chance, Mark Padmore, James Gilchrist, John Mark Ainsley, and Jeremy White, who became a principal bass at The Royal Opera, Covent Garden. [16]

Accomplishments

The Tallis Scholars ensemble contributed to the wider and greater recognition of choral works of Tallis, Palestrina, Byrd, Tye, and de Victoria, among the other European Renaissance sacred and secular composers, while performing over 1800 concerts around the world and releasing 50 discs. [17] The singers have paved the way for many younger groups such as The Sixteen, The Clerks, The Cardinall's Musick, The Binchois Consort, Trinity Baroque, the Gabrieli Consort, and Octarium. [18] Founded in 1999, the Boston-based early-music a cappella ensemble Blue Heron is viewed by some critics as a direct influence of the Tallis Scholars on the American early-music scene. [19]

In 2000, the group established the Tallis Scholars Summer Schools, a program providing amateur singers and promising young professionals the opportunity to be coached by Phillips and other members of the ensemble in their specialist repertoire. The program now includes three courses which take place in Oakham in the United Kingdom, Seattle in the United States, and Sydney in Australia.

Various members of the group have scholarly interests in addition to their activities as professional musicians. Phillips has published a scholarly text English Sacred Music 1549–1649. [20] Sally Dunkley, Francis Steele, and Deborah Roberts are all active as music editors and publishers with interests spanning the Renaissance and early Baroque music. Andrew Gant is also organist at the Chapel Royal.

The Tallis Scholars have also performed and recorded Russian Orthodox repertoire, including music by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Igor Stravinsky, and contemporary music, including works by Norbert Moret, Ivan Moody, Arvo Pärt, John Tavener and Eric Whitacre.

Accolades and awards

In 2013, the New York Times described the Tallis Scholars as the "superb a cappella ensemble founded and conducted by Peter Phillips". [21] During their 40 years of concert performances, the group have collected a number of recognitions.

In 1987, the Gramophone magazine awarded The Tallis Scholars its Record of the Year, and in 1989 the French magazine Diapason added its Diapason d'Or de l'Année award. In 1991 and 2004, the Gramophone magazine gave The Tallis Scholars its Early Music Award. In 2012, the singers again received the Diapason d'Or de l'Année award, and in 2013 they were elected by a popular vote to the Gramophone's Hall of Fame.

Discography

YearComposer/sTitle / WorksDetail
1980Allegri / Palestrina / Mundy Miserere / Missa Papae Marcelli / Vox parts caeliestis#1 HMV Classical Chart, February 1981
1981PalestrinaMissa Benedicta es/ Motet
1982Tavener, Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Bortniansky and anonRussian Orthodox Music
1982 Gibbons, Byrd, Weelkes, Morley, Tomkins, etc.English Madrigals
1983Palestrina, Lhéritier, Victoria and de Silva Missa Nigra sum / Motets
1984 John Taverner Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas/ Leroy Kyrie/ Dum transisset I
1984 Tavener Ikon of Light/ Funeral Ikos/ The Lamb
1985Tallis Spem in alium and other Latin-texted works
1985ByrdThe Three Masses
1986Christmas Carols and Motets
1986PalestrinaMissa Brevis/ Missa Nasce la gioja mia
1986TallisThe Complete English Anthems
1986Josquin Missa Pange Lingua/ Missa La sol fa re mi Gramophone Magazine Record of the Year, 1987
1987 Gesualdo Tenebrae responsories for Holy Saturday/ Four Marian Motets
1987 Clemens Missa Pastores quidnam vidistis/ Motets
1987Victoria / Lobo Requiem/ Versa Est in Luctum
1987ByrdThe Great Service/ Anthems
1988Sarum Chant: Missa in Gallicantu
1988 Cornysh Stabat Mater, Magnificat, Salve regina and other motets and secular songs
1989Sheppard Media Vita
1989JosquinL'homme armé MassesDiapason d'Or de l'Année, 1989
1989 Lassus Missa Osculetur me/ Motets
1989PalestrinaMissa Assumpta est Maria/ Missa Sicut lilumGramophone magazine Early Music Award, 1991
1990Music featured on the South Bank Show1-disc reissue to accompany the programme
1990 Cardoso Requiem/ Magnificat/ Motets
1990VictoriaTenebrae Responsories
1991 Isaac Missa de Apostolis/ Motets
1991TomkinsThe Great Service/ Anthems
1992 Brumel Missa Et ecce terrae motus (The Earthquake Mass)/ Lamentations/ Magnificat
1992 Duarte Lobo Requiem/ Missa Vox clamantis
1992TallisLamentations of Jeremiah/ Motets and Antiphons
1993ByrdWilliam Byrd2-disc reissue to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the composer's birth
1993Taverner, Tye and SheppardThe Western Wind Masses
1994PalestrinaThe Palestrina 400 Collection4-disc reissue to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the composer's death
1994 de Rore Missa Praeter rerum seriem/ MotetsGramophone Early Music Award, 1994
Gramophone/Classic FM People's Choice Award, 1994
Zlatá Harmonie Award, Brno, 1995
1994Allegri, PalestrinaLive in Rome: Allegri and PalestrinaWinner, Cannes Classical Awards at MIDEM, 1995
1995TavernerJohn Taverner1-disc reissue to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the composer's death
1995 White Lamentations/ Magnificat/ Motets
1996ObrechtMissa Maria Zart
1997A Tudor Collection2-disc reissue
1997OckeghemMissa Au travail suis/ Missa De plus en plus and their chansons
1997A. LoboMissa Maria Magdalene/ Motets
1997The Yearning Spirit: Voices of Contemplation1-disc reissue
1998 Ferrabosco, Tallis, White, Brumel, PalestrinaLamenta: Lamentations
1998Tallis Scholars 25th Anniversary2-disc reissue
1998Josquin, Obrecht, Taverner, Byrd, Tallis, MundyTallis Scholars Live in Oxford
1998TallisMissa Puer natus (The Christmas Mass)/ Magnificat/ Motets
1999The Best of the Renaissance2-disc reissue
2000 Morales Missa Si bona suscipimus/ MotetNominated for a Grammy, 2002
2001AllegriMiserereReissue of the 1980 release
2001TavenerIkon of Light/ Funeral Ikos/ The LambReissue of the 1984 release
2001 Gombert Magnificats 1-4/ chant antiphons
2002GombertMagnificats 5-8/ chant antiphons
2002TallisThe Complete English AnthemsReissue of the 1986 release
2002TallisLamentations of JeremiahReissue of the 1992 release
2003Christmas with the Tallis Scholars2-disc reissue
2003The Essential Tallis Scholars2-disc reissue
2004PalestrinaThe Tallis Scholars sing Palestrina2-disc reissue
2004TallisThe Tallis Scholars sing Thomas Tallis2-disc reissue
2005AllegriMiserere25th Anniversary Edition of the 1980 release
2005 Browne Music from the Eton Choirbook Gramophone Early Music Award, 2005
2005PalestrinaTallis Scholars sing Palestrina2-disc reissue
2005Victoria/ D. Lobo/ CardosoRequiem2-disc reissue
2006 Guerrero Missa Surge Propera/ Motets
2006PalestrinaMissa Benedicta es25th Anniversary Edition of the 1981 release
2006ByrdPlaying Elizabeth's Tune: Byrd's Mass for Four Voices/ Motets
2006Renaissance Giants2-disc reissue
2006JosquinThe Tallis Scholars sing Josquin2-disc reissue
2007Allegri / PalestrinaMiserere / Missa Papae Marcelli and MotetsNew recordings
2007English Madrigals25th Anniversary Edition of the 1982 release
2007ByrdThe Tallis Scholars sing William Byrd2-disc reissue
2008JosquinMissa Sine nomine/ Missa Ad fugam
2008The Tallis Scholars sing Tudor Church Music - Volume One2-disc reissue
2008The Tallis Scholars sing Tudor Church Music - Volume Two2-disc reissue
2009Flemish Masters2-disc reissue
2009JosquinMissa Malheur me bat/ Missa Fortuna desperataDiapason d'Or, 2010
Nominated for a Grammy, 2009
2010Sacred Music in the Renaissance, Vol. 14-disc reissue to celebrate Gimell's 30th anniversary
2010Sacred Music in the Renaissance, Vol. 24-disc reissue to celebrate Gimell's 30th anniversary
2010Sacred Music in the Renaissance, Vol. 34-disc reissue to celebrate Gimell's 30th anniversary
2010VictoriaLamentations of JeremiahNominated for a Grammy, 2010
2011JosquinMissa De beata virgine and Missa Ave maris stellaDiapason d'Or de l'Année, 2012
2011The Victoria Collection3-disc reissue to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the composer's death
2012 Mouton Missa Dictes moy toutes voz pensées/ Motets
2013Allegri / PalestrinaMiserere / Missa Papae MarcelliPure Audio Blu-ray release of the 2007 disc
2013WhitacreSainte-ChapelleSingle track download, not available on CD
2013TavernerMissa Gloria tibi Trinitas/ MagnificatsWinner, 51st Japan Record Academy Early Music Award, 2013
#1 for several weeks, UK Specialist Classical Chart, 2013
2013Renaissance Radio2-disc reissue of selected tracks
2014TavenerIkon of Light/ Funeral Ikos/ The LambReissue of the 1984 release to commemorate the death of the composer
2015Arvo PärtTintinnabuliMusicWeb International Recording of the Year
2015Perfect Polyphony2-disc reissue of selected tracks
2015John TavernerMissa Corona spinea/ Dum transisset Sabbatum I and II
2016JosquinMissa Di dadi/ Missa Une mousse de Biscaye
2016JosquinMissa Gaudeamus/ Missa L'ami Baudichon
2019Josquin / Bauldeweyn / BrumelMissa Mater Patris/ Missa Da pacem/ Mater Patris
2021JosquinMissa Hercules Dux Ferrarie - Missa D'ung aultre amer - Missa Faysant regretz
2023SheppardMissa Cantate

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References

  1. ↑ "Gramophone Hall of Fame". gramophone.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  2. ↑ "Golden Renaissance". Gramophone. London, UK: MA Music. November 2023. pp. 1–30.
  3. ↑ Phillips, Peter. What We Really Do: The Tallis Scholars. London: Musical Times, 2003, p.143.
  4. ↑ Milsom, John. A Tallis Scholars' retrospective. Early Music, Volume 32, Number 3, August 2004, p. 466-468.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Libbey, Theodore. NPR Listener's Encyclopedia of Classical Music . New York: Workman Pub, 2006.
  6. ↑ "40 years of The Tallis Scholars". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  7. ↑ "Tallis Scholars". journalofmusic.com. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  8. ↑ Brian Wise (2000-05-05). "McCartney, Tallis Scholars Fete John Tavener In Concert". mtv.com. Retrieved 2024-06-21.[ dead link ]
  9. ↑ Charlotte Smith (2012-11-28). "The Tallis Scholars celebrate 40th anniversary in St Paul's Cathedral". gramophone.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  10. ↑ Wilson, Nick. Art of Re-Enchantment:Making Early Music in the Modern Age . New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.
  11. ↑ "The Tallis Scholars' and Gimell Records' 30th Anniversary: Peter Phillips and Steve Smith in conversation with John Quinn (JQ)". Musicweb-international.com. 1980-03-23. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  12. ↑ Sherman, Bernard D. Inside Early Music: Conversations with Performers. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997, p. 131.
  13. ↑ "Gimell Records - News". Gimell.com. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  14. ↑ "Gimell Records - 50 Greatest Recordings of All Time". Gimell.com. 2011-12-20. Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  15. ↑ "Gimell Records - 40th Anniversary release goes straight to number one". Gimell.com. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  16. ↑ The Tallis Scholars’ and Gimell Records’ 30th Anniversary: Peter Phillips and Steve Smith in conversation with John Quinn. MusicWeb International's Worldwide Concert and Opera Reviews. Accessed 9 December 2013.
  17. ↑ "Gimell Records - The Tallis Scholars on DVD, CD and Download". Gimell.com. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  18. ↑ Knighton, Tess, and David Fallows. Companion to Medieval and Renaissance Music. New York: Schirmer Books, 1992, p. 34.
  19. ↑ Keogh, Tom. It’s choral early-music season in Seattle. The Seattle Times , December 9, 2013.
  20. ↑ Phillips, Peter. English Sacred Music, 1549-1649. Oxford: Gimell, 1991.
  21. ↑ Shweitzer, Vivien. Exploring Spirituality, and Ending on a Prayer: Tallis Scholars Feature Taverner Works at White Light Concert. The New York Times , November 18, 2013.
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