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The Tallis Scholars

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The Tallis Scholars
Thomas Tallis, the English composer after whom the ensemble is named
Background information
OriginUnited Kingdom
GenresClassical music
Instrument(s)Vocal
Years active1973–present
LabelsGimell Records
Websitewww.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]

History[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Year Composer/s Title / Works Detail
1980 Allegri / Palestrina / Mundy Miserere / Missa Papae Marcelli / Vox parts caeliestis #1 HMV Classical Chart, February 1981
1981 Palestrina Missa Benedicta es/ Motet
1982 Tavener, Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Bortniansky and anon Russian Orthodox Music
1982 Gibbons, Byrd, Weelkes, Morley, Tomkins, etc. English Madrigals
1983 Palestrina, 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
1985 Tallis Spem in alium and other Latin-texted works
1985 Byrd The Three Masses
1986 Christmas Carols and Motets
1986 Palestrina Missa Brevis/ Missa Nasce la gioja mia
1986 Tallis The Complete English Anthems
1986 Josquin 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
1987 Victoria / Lobo Requiem/ Versa Est in Luctum
1987 Byrd The Great Service/ Anthems
1988 Sarum Chant: Missa in Gallicantu
1988 Cornysh Stabat Mater, Magnificat, Salve regina and other motets and secular songs
1989 Sheppard Media Vita
1989 Josquin L'homme armé Masses Diapason d'Or de l'Année, 1989
1989 Lassus Missa Osculetur me/ Motets
1989 Palestrina Missa Assumpta est Maria/ Missa Sicut lilum Gramophone magazine Early Music Award, 1991
1990 Music featured on the South Bank Show 1-disc reissue to accompany the programme
1990 Cardoso Requiem/ Magnificat/ Motets
1990 Victoria Tenebrae Responsories
1991 Isaac Missa de Apostolis/ Motets
1991 Tomkins The Great Service/ Anthems
1992 Brumel Missa Et ecce terrae motus (The Earthquake Mass)/ Lamentations/ Magnificat
1992 Duarte Lobo Requiem/ Missa Vox clamantis
1992 Tallis Lamentations of Jeremiah/ Motets and Antiphons
1993 Byrd William Byrd 2-disc reissue to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the composer's birth
1993 Taverner, Tye and Sheppard The Western Wind Masses
1994 Palestrina The Palestrina 400 Collection 4-disc reissue to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the composer's death
1994 de Rore Missa Praeter rerum seriem/ Motets Gramophone Early Music Award, 1994
Gramophone/Classic FM People's Choice Award, 1994
Zlatá Harmonie Award, Brno, 1995
1994 Allegri, Palestrina Live in Rome: Allegri and Palestrina Winner, Cannes Classical Awards at MIDEM, 1995
1995 Taverner John Taverner 1-disc reissue to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the composer's death
1995 White Lamentations/ Magnificat/ Motets
1996 Obrecht Missa Maria Zart
1997 A Tudor Collection 2-disc reissue
1997 Ockeghem Missa Au travail suis/ Missa De plus en plus and their chansons
1997 A. Lobo Missa Maria Magdalene/ Motets
1997 The Yearning Spirit: Voices of Contemplation 1-disc reissue
1998 Ferrabosco, Tallis, White, Brumel, Palestrina Lamenta: Lamentations
1998 Tallis Scholars 25th Anniversary 2-disc reissue
1998 Josquin, Obrecht, Taverner, Byrd, Tallis, Mundy Tallis Scholars Live in Oxford
1998 Tallis Missa Puer natus (The Christmas Mass)/ Magnificat/ Motets
1999 The Best of the Renaissance 2-disc reissue
2000 Morales Missa Si bona suscipimus/ Motet Nominated for a Grammy, 2002
2001 Allegri Miserere Reissue of the 1980 release
2001 Tavener Ikon of Light/ Funeral Ikos/ The Lamb Reissue of the 1984 release
2001 Gombert Magnificats 1-4/ chant antiphons
2002 Gombert Magnificats 5-8/ chant antiphons
2002 Tallis The Complete English Anthems Reissue of the 1986 release
2002 Tallis Lamentations of Jeremiah Reissue of the 1992 release
2003 Christmas with the Tallis Scholars 2-disc reissue
2003 The Essential Tallis Scholars 2-disc reissue
2004 Palestrina The Tallis Scholars sing Palestrina 2-disc reissue
2004 Tallis The Tallis Scholars sing Thomas Tallis 2-disc reissue
2005 Allegri Miserere 25th Anniversary Edition of the 1980 release
2005 Browne Music from the Eton Choirbook Gramophone Early Music Award, 2005
2005 Palestrina Tallis Scholars sing Palestrina 2-disc reissue
2005 Victoria/ D. Lobo/ Cardoso Requiem 2-disc reissue
2006 Guerrero Missa Surge Propera/ Motets
2006 Palestrina Missa Benedicta es 25th Anniversary Edition of the 1981 release
2006 Byrd Playing Elizabeth's Tune: Byrd's Mass for Four Voices/ Motets
2006 Renaissance Giants 2-disc reissue
2006 Josquin The Tallis Scholars sing Josquin 2-disc reissue
2007 Allegri / Palestrina Miserere / Missa Papae Marcelli and Motets New recordings
2007 English Madrigals 25th Anniversary Edition of the 1982 release
2007 Byrd The Tallis Scholars sing William Byrd 2-disc reissue
2008 Josquin Missa Sine nomine/ Missa Ad fugam
2008 The Tallis Scholars sing Tudor Church Music - Volume One 2-disc reissue
2008 The Tallis Scholars sing Tudor Church Music - Volume Two 2-disc reissue
2009 Flemish Masters 2-disc reissue
2009 Josquin Missa Malheur me bat/ Missa Fortuna desperata Diapason d'Or, 2010
Nominated for a Grammy, 2009
2010 Sacred Music in the Renaissance, Vol. 1 4-disc reissue to celebrate Gimell's 30th anniversary
2010 Sacred Music in the Renaissance, Vol. 2 4-disc reissue to celebrate Gimell's 30th anniversary
2010 Sacred Music in the Renaissance, Vol. 3 4-disc reissue to celebrate Gimell's 30th anniversary
2010 Victoria Lamentations of Jeremiah Nominated for a Grammy, 2010
2011 Josquin Missa De beata virgine and Missa Ave maris stella Diapason d'Or de l'Année, 2012
2011 The Victoria Collection 3-disc reissue to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the composer's death
2012 Mouton Missa Dictes moy toutes voz pensées/ Motets
2013 Allegri / Palestrina Miserere / Missa Papae Marcelli Pure Audio Blu-ray release of the 2007 disc
2013 Whitacre Sainte-Chapelle Single track download, not available on CD
2013 Taverner Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas/ Magnificats Winner, 51st Japan Record Academy Early Music Award, 2013
#1 for several weeks, UK Specialist Classical Chart, 2013
2013 Renaissance Radio 2-disc reissue of selected tracks
2014 Tavener Ikon of Light/ Funeral Ikos/ The Lamb Reissue of the 1984 release to commemorate the death of the composer
2015 Arvo Pärt Tintinnabuli MusicWeb International Recording of the Year
2015 Perfect Polyphony 2-disc reissue of selected tracks
2015 John Taverner Missa Corona spinea/ Dum transisset Sabbatum I and II
2016 Josquin Missa Di dadi/ Missa Une mousse de Biscaye
2016 Josquin Missa Gaudeamus/ Missa L'ami Baudichon
2019 Josquin / Bauldeweyn / Brumel Missa Mater Patris/ Missa Da pacem/ Mater Patris
2021 Josquin Missa Hercules Dux Ferrarie - Missa D'ung aultre amer - Missa Faysant regretz
2023 Sheppard Missa Cantate

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b c d 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.
  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.

External links[edit]

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