Music for Lent

Spem in Alium is a 40 part motet composed by Thomas Tallis – possibly for Queen Elizabeth’s 40th birthday (a disputed suggestion). It is made up of 8 choirs of 5 voices and probably to be performed in a horseshoe going from soprano of choir 1 at one end through to bass of choir 8 at the other.

Rosanna and Rob have recorded all 40 parts between them and Rob has mixed it so you get the antiphonal feel of the horseshoe described above if you listen in stereo (headphones are great for this).

The words are apt for Lent…
Spem in alium nunquam habui
Praeter in te, Deus Israel,
Qui irasceris, et propitius eris,
Et omnia peccata hominum
In tribulatione dimittis.
Domine Deus, creator caeli et terrae,
Respice humilitatem nostram.

I have never placed my hope
In any other than you, God of Israel,
Who can show both anger and graciousness
And absolve all the sins
of suffering man.
Lord God, creator of Heaven and Earth
Be mindful of our humiliation.

Please do have a listen to this if you can and feel free to share widely.

The link is below:
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/MENMr1UDgeZMnj4f7

If you would like to hear any of the music Rob, Rosanna, Simon and the choir have recorded it can all be found in the links below. One for anthems, one for organ and one for hymns:

Anthems:
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/ehrXLs4vJEV6Ac9c9

Hymns:
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/Gnj6wZN7DvRft5mBA

Organ:
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/KvQVjBqBs92925bZ6