Thomas Tallis / Edition 1

by John Harley

Overview

John Harley’s Thomas Tallis is the first full-length book to deal comprehensively with the composer’s life and works. Tallis entered the Chapel Royal in the middle of a long life, and remained there for over 40 years. During a colourful period of English history he famously served King Henry VIII and the three of Henry’s children who followed him to the throne. His importance for English music during the second half of the sixteenth century is equalled only by that of his pupil, colleague and friend William Byrd. In a series of chronological chapters, Harley describes Tallis’s career before and after he entered the Chapel. The fully considered biography is placed in the context of larger political and cultural changes of the period. Each monarch’s reign is treated with an examination of the ways in which Tallis met its particular musical needs. Consideration is given to all of Tallis’s surviving compositions, including those probably intended for patrons and amateurs beyond the court, and attention is paid to the context within which they were written. Tallis emerges as a composer whose music displays his special ability in setting words and creating ingenious musical patterns. A table places most of Tallis’s compositions in a broad chronological order.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472428066
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/28/2015
Edition description:	Revised ed.
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

John Harley has written extensively on musical topics since retiring from the civil service. His books for Ashgate include William Byrd: Gentleman of the Chapel Royal (1997), William Byrd’s Modal Practice (2005), The World of William Byrd: Musicians, Merchants and Magnates (2010), and, with Andrew Ashbee, The Cheque Books of the Chapel Royal (2 volumes, 2000).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Reign of Henry VIII: Biographical and Historical Background; Chapter 2: The Reign of Henry VIII: Music with Latin Words; Chapter 3: The Later Years of Henry VIII and the Reign of Edward VI: Biographical and Historical Background; Chapter 4: The Later Years of Henry VIII and the Reign of Edward VI: Music with English Words; Chapter 5: The Reign of Mary I: Biographical and Historical Background; Chapter 6: The Reign of Mary I: Music with Latin Words; Chapter 7: Instrumental Music of the Mid-Century; Chapter 8: The Reign of Elizabeth I: Biographical and Historical Background; Chapter 9: The Reign of Elizabeth I: Music with English Words; Chapter 10: The Reign of Elizabeth I: Music with Latin Words, and Late Keyboard Music; Chapter 11: The Reign of Elizabeth I: Tallis's Last Years; Chapter 12: Reflections

Editorial Reviews

"This is a coherent and carefully-thought-out book (...) The new thoughts presented in these essays contribute to an ongoing discussion that has been gathering momentum for some years (...) Harley’s book is very welcome: any choir director planning to perform a work by Tallis should consult it." - Richard Rastall, The Consort Early Music Journal, vol.73, Summer 2017

From the Publisher